IWT Winter 2014

ISSN - 1649 - 5705 • WINTER ‘14

MAGAZINE OF THE IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST

IRELAND’S

SIT BIE LDL FE

W

MAGAZINE

UNDER

PRESSURE SAFEGUARDING THE ATLANTIC SALMON

SPOTTED

IN IRELAND: •Irish stoat •Stonechat •Peppered Moth

CLIMATE CHANGE

000_IWT WIN14_COVER.indd 1

GREENWASHING AGRICULTURE

TAXIDERMY

20/11/2014 11:27

Marine Institute Foras na Mara GALWAY FIELD STUDIES CENTRE AT GALWAY ATLANTAQUARIA We are delighted to announce that we are expanding our range of Leaving Certificate Ecology Studies from the Seashore to incorporate Grassland and Woodland Habitats from the 1st of March 2015 at Terryland Forest Park.

STUDENTS WILL BE AIDED BY OUR TRAINED GUIDES THROUGH A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING: • Selecting, mapping and describing their study area.

• Using grassland and woodland keys to identify 5 examples of flora.

• Carrying out a quantitative study of the flora present.

• Carrying out a quantitative worm study within the habitat • Using a range of apparatus such as moisture and ph meters, pooters, and baited traps to measure abiotic factors and identify the range of fauna living in the habitat.

Our Ocean - A Shared Resource Ár n-Aigéan - Acmhainn Comhroinnte Ireland’s National Agency for Marine Research and Innovation An Ghníomhaireacht Náisiúnta um Thaighde Mara agus Nuálaíochta

www.marine.ie

TO BOOK YOUR ECOLOGY FIELD STUDY CALL 091 585100 OR EMAIL INFONATIONALAQUARIUM.IE

233650_4C_NationalAquarium_JR_IWT.indd 1

rship

Sustainability

lte

by Coillte

07/11/2014 12:14 230824-4C-MARINE-AMA-IWT.indd 1

16/5/14 17:13:35

Coillte’s stewardship of Irish landscapes and ancient treasures is invaluable. We preserve and promote our shared natural heritage such as the newly opened Cavan Burren Park.

Nature, Biodiversity and Cultural Heritage, delivered by Coillte have a combined Public Goods value of over €500 million.

Innovation

Coillte. Treesby areCoillte just the start of it.

Exports

by Coillte

Cherishing the invaluable. Protecting the irreplaceable.

Delivering for everyone.

The Calf House The Cavan Burren – A Prehistoric Park Blacklion, Country Cavan.

232868_2L_Coillte_CMD_IWT.indd 1

Untitled-1 1

20/8/14 09:47:29

20/11/2014 11:28

WELCOME

Chairperson’s Comment As the year closes in the grips of winter, will it be a winter – and indeed winters – of discontent for our wildlife? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued dire warnings concerning the consequences of failing to tackle human-induced climate change; there are warnings that we are going through the next great extinction wave thanks to, you guessed it, us.

The in uence o humanit on all as ects o nature is so all encom assin that scientists are now proposing that the Holocene era is now over and we are truly now within the ‘Anthropocene’.

ISSN - 1649 - 5705 • WINTER ‘14

In Irelan we ra le with im lementin olic to re are oursel es an our ora an auna to deal with climate change, a lack of joined up thinking and, in some cases, a lack of joined up habitats. The EU’s Natura 2000 network of protected areas is increasingly unpopular with some landowners and this is encapsulated by the current war of words in the media over the hen harrier, a bird of prey of rough hills that is not a fan of industrial forestry and land reclamation. How can the government call our agricultural system green and sustainable when they can’t even look after our most protected areas and, in fact, threaten it with plans for further intensification o e en the oorest o lan which is o ten the richest or io i ersit

MAGAZINE OF THE IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST

IRELAND’S

BEST

WILDLIFE

MAGAZINE

UNDER

PRESSURE SAFEGUARDING THE ATLANTIC SALMON

SPOTTED

IN IRELAND: •Irish stoat •Stonechat •Peppered Moth

CLIMATE CHANGE

000_IWT WIN14_COVER.indd 1

GREENWASHING

TAXIDERMY

Cover credit: Waxwing by Karol Waszkiewicz, www. karolwaszkiewicz. com

17/11/2014 10:43

Pass it on. If you’re finished with your Irish Wildlife don’t throw it in the bin. Pass it on to someone who you think may enjoy it – or ask your local library or doctor’s office to leave it in the reception. You’ll help the environment and the IWT while you’re at it.

Editor: Pádraic Fogarty, IWT Published by Ashville Media Group www.ashville.com

Printed on

All articles © 2014. No part of this publication including the images used may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. Opinions and comments expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure that all information contained in this publication is factual and correct at time of going to press, Ashville Media Group and the Irish Wildlife Trust cannot be held responsible for any inadvertent errors or omissions contained herein.

Please recycle this copy of Irish Wildlife

It is up to the IWT and our members to sell the value of nature to everyone. One of the ways we do this is through our annual ‘Wild Watch’ event where we organise talks and walks across the country in some of our most beautiful and wild places. This year we had a tree walk in an old demesne, red squirrel hunting (with binoculars and cameras), a wildlife stand, a photography workshop and a sponsored nature walk. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who organised an event and helped fundraise for the IWT. We are looking forward to organising a bigger ‘Wild Watch’ in 2015, so watch this space!

With a new ear an a new e elo ment o ficer at the helm I ho e the ortunes o the IWT improve and that we go on to bigger and better things. We have been around for over thirty years and have now survived two recessions. Like a tree in the wind, we bend and sometimes crack, but always send out green shoots when conditions improve. This Christmas, please consider giving friends and family the gift of membership of the IWT to help us grow and thrive. Our governing council has also undergone great changes. Sadly we are losing two stalwart volunteers in Sarah Fields and Sarah Rubalcava. Both have done stellar work during their time on the council and the organisation is in a much stronger place from an operational perspective because of them. However, some great new folks have also come onto the council and I wish them luck and look forward to working with them over the coming year.

To our members and volunteers I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

Dr Daniel Buckley Chairperson, Irish Wildlife Trust

contriiButors DR SINEAD CUMMINS, a graduate of

UCC with a keen interest in stonechats, started out working at BirdWatch Ireland over 11 years ago. She has worked on numerous field-based and monitoring projects including the red grouse and kingfishers. She took up her current role of Species Policy Officer two years ago and since then has been involved in a number of policy areas including site and species protection, biodiversity and ecosystem services, fisheries, energy and wildlife crime working closely with BirdLife Europe and other national and European stakeholder groups including the Irish Wildlife Trust.

For the past thirty years PROF KEN WHELAN has worked both nationally and internationally on various aspects of salmon research and management. He was Director of the Salmon Research Agency and a Director in the Marine Institute. Ken also served as Chairman of the International Atlantic Salmon Research Board and as President of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation. He is currently Research Director of the Atlantic Salmon Trust and an Adjunct Professor in UCD’s School of Biology and Environmental Science. His recently published book on sea-trout with Chris McCully – Nomads of the Tides: Fishing for Irish Sea-trout – has received excellent reviews and is a must for anybody with an interest in this enigmatic creature.

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

001 IWT WIN14_Chairpersons Comment.indd 1

1

20/11/2014 10:11

002 IWT WIN14_CONTENTS V2.indd 2

20/11/2014 11:08

CONTENTS

Contents 4.

ABOUT US Discover more about the work of the IWT and how to get involved.

5. CONSERVATION NEWS All the latest Irish and international conservation news.

8. IWT NEWS What we’ve been doing over the autumn months.

12. EDUCATION Katy Egan offers some advice on switching off the screens and getting kids outside.

13. BRANCH FOCUS Tilla Sofie Schulte Ostermann fills us in on the IWT’s newest reserve in Co. Longford.

14. WILD IDEAS Elaine Dromey lifts the lid on the greenwashing of Irish agriculture.

17. COMPETITION We have three great prizes to give away: Birds of the Homeplace – The Lives of Ireland’s Familiar Birds by Anthony McGeehan with Julian Wyllie and Doorstep Wilderness – A Wilder Side of Dublin, by Paul Hughes, and a new book from Juanita Brown.

18. FEATURE – UNDER PRESSURE Beset on all sides by environmental pressures, is there hope for the Atlantic salmon? Ken Whelan examines the long term prospects and the challenges ahead.

22. SKIN DEEP Gordon D’Arcy on the dying art of taxidermy.

24. WINTER FOCUS Can we successfully face up to the challenges posed by climate change? Billy Flynn reports.

26. FIELD REPORT The Irish Stoat Project is underway, and needs the public’s assistance, writes Laura Flynn.

28. OVER TO YOU A selection of letters and photos sent in by Irish Wildlife Trust members.

30. IWT EVENTS Dates for your diary.

32. ON LOCATION Sinead Cummins recalls an encounter with the distinctive stonechat.

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

002 IWT WIN14_CONTENTS V2.indd 3

3

20/11/2014 12:47

IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST

About Us The Irish Wildlife Trust was founded in 1979 and aims to conserve wildlife and the habitats it depends on throughout Ireland, while encouraging a greater understanding and appreciation of the natural world.

The IWT is dedicated to creating a better future for Ireland’s wildlife through: Motivating and supporting people to take action for wildlife.

Education and raising awareness of all aspects of Irish wildlife and conservation issues.

Research of the natural environment.

Acquiring and managing nature reserves to safeguard species and habitats.

Lobbying decision-makers at all levels to promote policy in Ireland that provides a sustainable future for wildlife and people.

Working in partnership with other organisations to achieve results that matter for conservation.

Irish Wildlife is published quarterly by the IWT. Images this page: (above top) stonechat, photo by A. Kelly; (above) atlantic salmon pre-smolt, photo by E. Peter Steenstra.

Have comments?

Magazine queries, general wildlife questions or observations email: irishwildlife@iwt.ie All other queries email: enquiries@iwt.ie Phone: (01) 860 2839 Snail mail: The Irish Wildlife Trust, Sigmund Business Centre, 93A Lagan Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 Web: www.iwt.ie Social media: facebook.com/IrishWildlifeTrust twitter.com/Irishwildlife

The IWT encourages action at a local level and has a number of branches around the country: Cork: Gill, corkbranch@gmail.com Facebook: search for ‘Irish Wildlife Trust – Cork Branch’ Dublin: Roisin, dublinbranch@iwt.ie facebook.com/DublinBranchIrishWildlife Trustdubliniwt.blogspot.ie Waterford: Ray, iwtwaterford@gmail.com irishwildlifetrust.blogspot.ie Cavan: Barry, cavanbranch@iwt.ie www.facebook.com/irishwildlifetrust. branch Kerry: Pat, iwtkerry@gmail.com www.facebook.com/KerryIWT www.iwtkerry.blogspot.ie Sign up to their monthly newsletter!

Galway: Tom, iwtgalway@gmail.com www.facebook.com/IWTgalwaybranch Longford/Westmeath: Noreen, iwtlongfordwestmeath@gmail.com Facebook: search for ‘Longford/ Westmeath Irish Wildlife Trust Branch’ Laois/Offaly: Ricky, iwtlaoisoffaly@gmail.com www.facebook.com/IWTlaoisoffalybranch

How can you help?

You, our members, make the IWT what it is. Through your subscriptions and support we can undertake the projects that are benefiting Ireland’s wildlife. If you would like to help more, here’s what you can do: • Make a one-off donation to the IWT. • Give IWT membership as a gift.

• Volunteer – we are always looking for people to help out in different ways.

There are lots of ways to get involved, from work experience in specialist areas to getting your hands dirty at our sites or helping us increase membership at events.

See our website www.iwt.ie for details or contact the office directly.

• Do you have land that you would like

used for conservation? We are always on the lookout to establish new sites to enhance wildlife or provide education opportunities.

• Remember us in your will. Why not leave a lasting legacy towards conserving Ireland’s natural heritage? The IWT uses all funds towards our campaigns, managing reserves and our education programmes. Please visit www.mylegacy.ie.

• Set up a branch. Are you passionate about wildlife and are in a county that does not have an IWT branch? Contact the office and we can give you the support you need to get up and running.

Keep up-to-date on all the latest news from the Irish Wildlife Trust on www.iwt.ie 4

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

004 IWT WIN14_About Us.indd 4

20/11/2014 12:07

CONSERVATION NEWS

CONSERVATION

NEWS An update on Irish and international news from the desk of Dr Debbi Pedreschi.

IRISH NEWS

AGGRESSIVE DOLPHINS POSE PROBLEMS rou o fi e swimmers in the o ular lac roc swimmin s ot in Salthill o alwa ha to e rescue an rou ht to shore alwa I ollowin another contro ersial human ol hin interaction inci ent e orts state that the ol hin nown as let’ re eate l circle the rou an swam irectl at them lan in lancin lows with his tail an nose cou le o a s later similar re orts were recei e rom Inis irr the smallest o the ran Islan s where a emale tourist an a ormer mem er o the o al a recei e lows an ruises rom let’ The IWT oins the Irish Whale an ol hin rou in remin in the u lic that these so calle rien l ’ ol hins are wil an un re icta le animals articularl as the a ressi e inci ents ha e increase in recent times it is stron l a ise that not

5 Bottle-nosed dolphin in

the Shannon estuary.

onl shoul swimmers a oi a roachin an attem tin to swim with wil ol hins caution shoul e e ercise when swimmin in areas nown to e re uente solitar ol hins Sa et must e the main riorit

NEW INVADER OR OVERLOOKED RESIDENT? A new species of ladybird has been identified for the first time in Ireland. Aideen Kane of the IWT Cork Branch confirmed her sighting of a kidneyspotted ladybird (Chilocorus renipustulatus) in an unused quarry near Cork city, on the 19th of September. This ladybird is native to the United Kingdom, being quite common in areas of England and Wales, but has never been listed as an Irish resident before now. Does this mean that this is a new species to Ireland — perhaps a newly introduced invader, or a climate change coloniser? Or is it simply a long overlooked resident? As the species was also recorded in Scotland for the first time in recent years, it is likely that the ladybird is a climate change migrant — what this means for the scale insects they prey upon in Irish systems remains to be seen.

This unique find serves to highlight the importance of the ongoing IWT ladybird survey — a citizen science project where sightings are reported through biology.ie. See www.iwt.ie for more details.

THE VALUE OF WATER The Environmental Protection Agency has released a report documenting Irish attitudes to our aquatic systems. Our rivers, lakes and seas provide numerous ecosystem services such as providing drinking water, regulatory activities (e.g. nutrient cycling), food provision (fish) and many recreational opportunities such as swimming, angling, sailing, kayaking, diving, and numerous other water sports. Quantifying the financial value of such services, however, is a much more difficult task.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the recent water charges controversies and protests, nearly half (44 per cent) of respondents admitted they were unwilling or unable to pay for improvements to Irish water bodies, believing that it is the Government’s responsibility. Of those willing to pay, the aesthetic value of the waterbody (i.e. water clarity and smell) was of primary concern, whereas access to recreational activities was of least importance. Participants’ concern for the health of the aquatic ecosystems, measured using species diversity, was found to be directly related to how often they had visited a waterbody in the past 12 months, indicating that the more a person visits a waterbody, the more highly they value the biodiversity found there. This type of research is essential for policy development in order to highlight how our aquatic resources are valued by Irish citizens, hence helping to ensure they are safeguarded and conserved for future generations.

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

005 IWT WIN14_Conservation News.indd 5

5

20/11/2014 10:18

CONSERVATION NEWS

IRISH NEWS

DR. HAMMERHEAD ADVOCATES ‘SHARK PARK’ FOR MALIN HEAD

BADGER ‘BODY BAGS’

Dr. Pete ‘Hammerhead’ Klimley, Adjunct Professor at the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology in the University of California, visited Ireland in October to advise the Irish Basking Shark Study Group (IBSSG) on the establishment of a ‘shark park’. Such a ‘shark park’ would be similar in concept to a national park – a defined area of the ocean dedicated to the conservation of sharks in this case focusing on, but not limited to, the large number of basking sharks that frequent the area. The Malin Head area is also home to many specimen records for other shark species such as tope, porbeagle, skate and blue shark. The ‘shark park’ would be Ireland’s first national marine park and potentially a UNESCO biosphere area.

It would encompass approximately nine existing Natura 2000 coastal and marine designations. Proposals exist for an ocean interpretive centre and the development of an internationally recognised tourist attraction. Furthermore, the proposals are a collaborative effort; as marine species do not recognise political boundaries the park would serve to protect and enhance the shark numbers for neighbouring Scotland and Northern Ireland.

To learn more about the work of the IBSSG, visit www.baskingshark.ie

The Journal.ie recently reported that the Department of Agriculture tendered for the provision of 25,000 units to contain ‘biological material’ for the “storage and transport of badger carcasses” – in other words, badger body bags.

This is a follow up to the tender in August for contractors to actually carry out the cull in which 12,000 badgers will be targeted. This is a staggering figure given that only 70,000 badgers are thought to be found in the country today.

Culling badgers is ineffective and unnecessary. The IWT advocates for the speedy implementation of vaccination as an alternative to culling. Vaccination trials are on-going in Ireland at the moment, and the IWT calls upon the Irish authorities to stop wasting taxpayer’s money on a failed project.

Please text WILDLIFE to 50300 to donate €4 and help us protect Ireland’s wildlife and habitats.

100% of text cost goes to the Irish Wildlife Trust across most network providers. Some providers apply VAT, which means that a minimum of Ð3.26 will go to the Irish Wildlife Trust. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 01 4433890. Charity Registration No.: CHY6264.

IRELAND REPORTS TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Ireland has submitted its 5th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity. These reports serve to measure progress towards protecting our biodiversity and ecosystem services. Of the 58 terrestrial habitats assessed a mere nine per cent were given favourable conservation status, 50 per cent inadequate and 41 per cent bad. Since 2007, 31 per cent of habitats had declined, whereas 16 per cent improved. Intertidal habitats fared better with 74 per cent of assessed locations classified as having good or high ecological status, 12 per cent as moderate, eight per cent poor and four per cent bad. Focussing on species, 52 per cent were favourable, 20 per cent inadequate, 12 per cent bad and 16 per cent of unknown status. An increase in invasive species was also noted.

The report calls attention to grazing issues as 50 per cent of the reported pressures on protected habitats were related to unsustainable grazing regimes (undergrazing or overgrazing). The vulnerability of our peatlands were also highlighted as over 50 per cent of the high impact pressures were related to peatland drainage. Large knowledge gaps in relation to marine habitats and species were noted.

The report notes good progress to date in implementing Ireland’s national biodiversity action plan, with 23 per cent of the actions implemented, 66 per cent in progress and 11 per cent that require further action. Climate change, household and industrial pollution are also addressed in the report which can be accessed at biodiversityireland.ie 6

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

005 IWT WIN14_Conservation News.indd 6

20/11/2014 12:49

CONSERVATION NEWS

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Climate change affecting Earth’s gravity

5 Emperor penguin. Photo by Hannes Grobe.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that Antarctica has now lost so much ice it has caused a noticeable shift in parts of the region’s gravity. Whilst minor and not noticeable on the ground, it resents a si nificant an une ecte e ect of climate change. Earlier this year two groups of scientists independently concluded that the major West Antarctic glaciers have reached a tipping point and have begun an ‘unstoppable collapse’ which will lead to unpreventable sea level rise of several metres o er the ne t ew hun re ears urther ESA measurements of the altitude of different regions across Earth have indicated that the rate at which ice has been lost from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has tripled every year since 2009, with 500 cubic kilometres of ice now melting each year from Greenland and Antarctica combined.

CALL TO ACT AS WILDLIFE NUMBERS HALVED IN JUST 40 YEARS The World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London have found that the number of wild animals has halved in the past 40 years as humans kill and consume them, and pollute and destroy their habitats. The study analysed 10,000 populations of 3,000 species to create a ‘Living Planet Index’, which reflects the state of all known vertebrates.

Freshwater species are the worst affected, with numbers declining by 75 per cent since 1970. The study also examined the ecological footprint of

nations, reflecting the rate at which populations are unsustainably consuming natural resources. Ireland is the 14th worst offender on the list.

The authors warn that if sustainable solutions and species conservation methods are not implemented immediately, the overuse of resources will likely lead to massive conflicts. All is not lost however as 2015 presents an opportunity as global leaders come together to agree a new global climate agreement and set new sustainable development goals.

WORLD’S LARGEST MARINE RESERVE CREATED IN PACIFIC OCEAN US President Barack Obama has created the world’s largest network of oceanic protected areas in the worl The acific emote Islan s Marine National Monument is rotecte rom commercial fishin deep-sea mining and all other e tracti e acti ities The acific emote Islan s rea consists o seven scattered largely pristine islands, atolls, seamounts and reefs that lie between Hawaii and American Samoa, and teem with marine life such as corals, marine bird rays, sharks, nearly two dozen s ecies o marine mammal fi e types of threatened sea turtles and a multitu e o fish s ecies man of which are not found anywhere else in the world. The signing of the memoran um e an s the previously protected 50 nautical mile limit around the island shores to 200 nautical miles, resulting in the protection of 1.2 million square miles, an area roughly three times the size of California, and the largest area protected by a US president in over 50 years. Although the move is welcomed, some environmental groups say more could have been done as only three of the previously ro ose fi e re ions ha e ha the e ansion a lie owe er the lan was scaled back to ensure no US fishin relate economic im acts

EU GETS TOUGH ON INVASIVES The European Commission has adopted a legally binding regulation to prevent, minimise, mitigate and manage the adverse impacts from the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. The regulation will come into force from 1 January 2015, and aims to protect biodiversity, associated ecosystem services, human health and related economic impacts. The EU will open and maintain a list of species of concern which may not be intentionally imported, bred, kept, transported or released within EU territory. Member States will be able to identify species from the list that may require additional regional cooperation which will be facilitated by the Commission. Finally, the regulation also establishes an early-detection surveillance system and measures for rapid response and eradication, as well as adequate deterrents in the form of penalties if the regulations are not correctly applied.

Keep up-to-date on all the latest news from the Irish Wildlife Trust on www.iwt.ie Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

005 IWT WIN14_Conservation News.indd 7

7

20/11/2014 10:19

IWT NEWS

NEWS ‘NETWORKS FOR NATURE’ THE IWT’S ROADSIDE VERGE MANAGEMENT PILOT PROJECT

By Sean Meehan.

G

enerall when eo le are as e to name a location or ha itat that is rich in io i ersit stan ar e am les o eci uous woo lan s’ the urren’ the ma on’ tro ical ree s’ etc are recite While these are un uestiona l correct an acce ta le res onses it woul a ear that these e am les hol a state o near mono ol in the eneral s che when it comes to ein reco nise as ein rich in io i ersit This is not to su est that these locations an ha itats are not entitle to such reco nition nor is it wise to attem t to own la their im ortance or to see i ersion rom their conser ation owe er it hi hli hts the situation where man other ha itats o ten ri ht on our oorste are all too easil o erloo e an ne lecte es ite o erin hi h io i ersit otential I we are serious a out e ucatin an em owerin eo le in conser ation an a ressin io i ersit loss we nee to o ac to asics an start local One such o erloo e an un er alue local ha itat is the roa si e er e an with a ro imatel m o roa an a acent er es in the e u lic o Irelan

8

this re resents a si nificant area o otential ha itat or our ora an auna In ritain or e am le it is estimate that the area o roa si e ha itat e cee s the total area o national nature reser es In Irelan it is ro a le that roa si e er e ha itat is si nificantl more a un ant than the lan area esi nate as a national ar or nature reser e ue to the aucit o such esi nate areas With ha itat loss an ra mentation ecomin e er increasin issues roa si e er es ro i e a narrow ut ital connection ena lin the mo ement o io i ersit in an e er isorientate en ironment In ee in the a sence o oo ualit he erows in man arts o Irelan ositi el mana e roa si e er es coul ro e to e ust as ital in maintainin the mo ement o wil li e an ro ision o ha itat or ora an auna The IWT has een awar e un in throu h the ocal en a ro ramme to carr out a ilot roa si e er e ha itat mana ement ro ect in South ount u lin oa si es in Irelan are su ect to ar in mana ement re imes which can ha e either ositi e or ne ati e im acts on

le els o io i ersit The aim o this ro ect is to en a e with local authorit sta an nominate communit rou s to assess the io i ersit alue o a sam le o roa si e ha itats in South ount u lin an to hel ormulate more io i ersit rien l mana ement re imes in the local authorit area The ro ect will inclu e a num er o wor sho s to e ucate an en a e the local communit rou s on the wil li e alue o roa si es an to ro i e asic ora an auna i entification s ills that will e use to sur e a stretch o roa in their communit The im ortance o io i ersit or communit well ein will e em hasise an it is ho e that this will eature in uture communit enhancement wor s un erta en these rou s In a ition a wor sho will e hel with local authorit sta to iscuss current roa si e mana ement re imes an to in esti ate io i ersit enhancin mana ement o roa si es that is com ati le with roa si e sa et ll oin well we ho e to roll this ro ect out nationall an ositi el en a e with other local authorities an communit rou s across the islan

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

008 IWT WIN14_IWT News.indd 8

20/11/2014 10:21

IWT NEWS

THE IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST’S

WILD WATCH WEEK

By Lorraine Bull.

T

he IWT held its nationwide Wild Watch Week from Sunday, 28th September to Sunday, 5th October 2014. This week-long series of events was held to raise awareness about Irish wildlife and the work of the IWT, as well as raising essential funds for the organisation.

The IWT’s branches were involved in organising a range of events. The Cork branch conducted a guided walk and talk in Port Ban (IWT Nature Reserve) with Kevin Corcoran and Ted Cooke; the Kerry branch held a wildlife photography walkabout with photographer Anthony Dawson in Blennerville, Tralee; while in Limerick there was an autumnal woodland walk with our Chairman Dr Daniel Buckley in the beautiful Curragh Chase woodland.

Our Cavan branch hosted a natural heritage

photography competition and exhibition in Bailieborough library to showcase the best of Cavan’s wildlife and natural heritage; in Monaghan there was a wildlife walk along the Ulster Canal greenway with Billy Flynn; the Laois-Offaly branch had a nature display stand at the Laois shopping centre; and the Dublin branch held a walk and talk on the wildlife and mining heritage of Carrickgollogan woods.

To our branches, members and volunteers who organised and attended events across the country, we would like to say a big thank you. A very big thank you also goes to the Wild Inishowen Group in Donegal which conducted a sponsored walk at Inch Reserve Wildfowl and Nature Reserve in aid of the IWT. We hope that the Wild Watch Week will be an annual event and become Ireland’s biggest celebration of wildlife and natural heritage. If you missed our events this year, or would like to host an event in your area next year, make sure to watch out for details in our magazine.

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

008 IWT WIN14_IWT News.indd 9

9

20/11/2014 10:22

IWT NEWS

IWT MARINE UPDATE

By IWT Campaigns Officer Pádraic Fogarty.

5 Seal trapped in a tangle net and subsequently freed.

Courtesy of the Irish Seal Sanctuary.

T

he IWT continues its involvement in marine issues along with our partners in other environmental groups, known as the Marine Group. es ite si nificant ro ress towar s en in o erfishin in an re uil in fish stoc s our sea li e still aces auntin challen es In Se tem er o this ear the arine rou calle or the use o tan le nets to e anne outright in Irish waters. A tangle net is a loose sheet o nettin which is sun to the sea oor with wei hts in or er to entan le assin fish an other marine li e tan le net can e le t at sea in efinitel actin as a eath tra or an assin creature urin storm weather the can e en e carrie awa to act as host nets’ e ecti el fishin ore er ccor in to a or Iascia h hara I the o ernment o res onsi le or the e elo ment o the sea oo in ustr re ort these are res onsi le or the in iscriminate ca ture o marine li e inclu in criticall en an ere s ecies such as an el shar an

10

//A TANGLE NET IS A LOOSE SHEET OF NETTING WHICH IS SUNK TO THE SEAFLOOR WITH WEIGHTS IN ORDER TO ENTANGLE PASSING FISH AND OTHER MARINE LIFE. A TANGLE NET CAN BE LEFT AT SEA INDEFINITELY, ACTING AS A DEATH TRAP FOR ANY PASSING CREATURE.// common s ate as well as rotecte s ecies such as whales ol hins an seals We elie e it is incum ent u on I to ensure that ractices which lea to a loss o io i ersit an fishin o ortunities are rohi ite ll fishin metho s an articularl those in areas alrea esi nate or io i ersit rotection must e selecti e an not in iscriminate I an the arine Institute must ro i e an alternati e metho

to ca ture crawfish the main tar et o tan le nets to our inshore fishermen Their use is lea in to con ict etween fishermen an wil li e es eciall seals I ’s re ort shows that seals are using tangle nets as ee in stations resultin in financial losses to fishermen an mortalit o seals themsel es It is im erati e or the sustaina le uture o our fisheries that estructi e metho s such as tan le nets ecome a thin o the ast

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

008 IWT WIN14_IWT News.indd 10

20/11/2014 10:22

IWT NEWS

5 Long-spined sea scorpion. Photo by Mark Thomas.

T

he Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is the latest in a series of legal initiatives from the European Commission aimed at protecting the quality of the marine environment. The seas of all Member States should have ‘good environmental status’ by 2020 and the Irish Government signed the MSFD into law in 2011. The first phase of its implementation was an assessment of the current state of the marine environment and the establishment of key indicators to monitor its health. The Government got off to a terrible start by publishing a poorly researched (although hefty) tome which concluded breezily that the marine environment was in great shape. This was despite the fact that there are no data on the status of marine species or habitats and we know that after years of destructive industrial fishing the sea floor has been badly damaged. Many once common species are extinct (sturgeon) or extremely rare (angel shark), and overfishing has left most stocks greatly diminished. To underline this point the report decided to skip the bit where biodiversity indicators were supposed to go

and just left it blank! To make matters worse the ‘consultation’ on the document took place after it was signed off. Environmental groups were told that we could have our say but that it would make no difference. The

//MANY ONCE COMMON SPECIES ARE EXTINCT (STURGEON) OR EXTREMELY RARE (ANGEL SHARK), AND OVERFISHING HAS LEFT MOST STOCKS GREATLY DIMINISHED.// IWT and other groups such as Coastwatch made detailed and constructive submissions.

To their credit, Department of Environment officials responded to each of the points we

made but refused to concede that any of them had validity and, true to their word, not a full stop was changed in the report submitted to the Commission.

In September the Government called for more ‘consultation’ on the next phase of the MSFD implementation, this time on the monitoring programme to be implemented.

A meeting between the Department of the Environment and environmental groups was cancelled at the last moment and its location changed, days before the deadline for submissions. The IWT responded but this time we felt enough was enough.

‘Consultation’ hands the Government the fig leaf of engagement with civil society even though everyone knows it’s a sham.

As volunteers we feel we cannot waste more time reading dense, public sector prose knowing that our views are of no value and will change nothing. The IWT is calling for the whole process to start again afresh, even if this means delay, as the health of our seas is simply too important. We understand that the Commission is currently considering this option.

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

008 IWT WIN14_IWT News.indd 11

11

20/11/2014 16:46

EDUCATION

GET THEM OUTSIDE!

Katy Egan offers some advice on switching off the screens and getting kids out into the fresh air.

M

ost people will have a memory of being kicked outside the house not to return until it was too dark to see. There is unfortunately a greater challenge now to engage children in the outdoors when the pull of television, computers and the internet is so great. A few small things can really make a huge difference in helping your child experience the outdoors and the joy of being out in nature.

TIPS FOR TAKING CHILDREN OUTSIDE SWITCH IT OFF AND GET STUCK IN: If you are not interested, they won’t be.

This goes for all aspects of working with children really. As the old saying goes: “children learn what they live and live what they learn.” If you are at a nature event, get stuck in! Often parents or guardians sit back and enjoy a coffee or play on their smartphone – understandably, as this may be their one break in the week. However, this demonstrates to children that what it means to be an adult is you don’t get involved. ore an more acilitators are fin in it

12

harder to engage children that are seeking ways to feel more adult and grown up. They try to mirror the behaviour of adults they like and admire. This can mean they won’t take part because those adults don’t, and they don’t want to look or feel silly or be seen as a little child. The opposite is also true; when adults take part the difference is astounding; children see that adults value the activity or experience and in turn feel safe to take part.

WEATHER ALWAYS LOOKS WORSE THROUGH THE WINDOW! Winter is a challenging time to bring children outside. Invest in rain gear; you can pick up cheap second hand trousers and jackets easily or buy cheap from bulk shops.

Try not to dwell on how bad the weather looks outside – once outside and stuck into an activity we tend not to notice the weather, especially when wrapped up in waterproof clothes. If children are reluctant to go out because of the weather, suggest that you go out or fi e or ten minutes an then ou can come back in. Often, if they get interested in an activity they forget the time or don’t

notice the weather. Alternatively, you can make it a feature, splash in puddles, make mud pictures and hide in piles of leaves on windy days.

CREATE YOUR OWN GAMES: This may sound like a lot more effort than being able to use existing phone or computer games. The difference is in the cognitive development they offer children. Boredom is so important to children; it is when creativity is pushed into action. With easy solutions to boredom, children are robbed of the opportunity to create fun ways to spend their time. They don’t develop important neural pathways and problem solving abilities.

However, to get started outdoors there are literally thousands of websites online that detail activities or ideas for spending time with children in nature. From building dens to searching for bugs, the opportunities are endless.

Alternatively you can contact Presentation colo to fin out a out their arent courses for taking kids outside. Visit their website at www.ecopresireland.com

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

012 IWT WIN14_Education.indd 12

20/11/2014 10:25

BRANCH FOCUS

NEW WILDLIFE RESERVE IN CO. LONGFORD Tilla Sofie Schulte Ostermann fills us in on the IWT’s newest reserve in Co. Longford.

T

he newly opened IWT reserve ‘Ounamoun’ (meaning bog river) consists of four farms and is situated beside Lough Ree in Co. Longford. Lough Ree is an extremely rich landscape with many wild places and species that have become very rare elsewhere and are in need of protection. The aim of the reserve management is to run the farm in such a way that the grasslands are enhanced, their diversity improved whilst complex wildlife habitats are created and protected.

The a shi s ecies or the Ounamoun eser e is the curlew an the fiel s are managed to create a patchwork of short grass areas and tussocks that these birds like.

There are breeding pairs on Lough Ree and if their chicks survive they need suitable nest sites within ~30km of where they are reared.

The reserve covers an area of approximately 100ha, a third of which is planted with native trees In the wetter areas ou can fin al er while the drier land is planted with ash, oak, rowan, spindle, whitebeam, hazel, purging and alder buckthorn with cherry species on the fringes. Some of these plantations are eight years old and they are really turning into a forest now – the ground vegetation is changing, redpoll and linnet are coming in oc s to ee a lon eare owl re ularl i s through the forest and mistle trushes come in large groups.

Badgers have a sett in a ringfort that has beautiful old forest ground vegetation but they also like digging in the new forest. The reserve includes approximately 12ha of shallow lake which is used as a wintering site by whooper swans and wigeon and it is also a feeding place for lapwing, golden plover and greylag geese. The open lands are grasslands that are mostly ‘unimproved’ and farmed organically. Some of the grasslands are highly diverse in species and the late summer grazing regime will help to improve the biodiversity in all grassland areas. The grazing is done extensively and it starts only in late summer on the s ecies rich rasslan s The animals used for this are an old breed

of cattle (the droimeann), the Roscommon sheep, ponies and goats. One of the target species for the reserve is the skylark and this bird has already bred on the farm this year.

Meadow pipits, cuckoo, snipe, woodcock, wheatear, dunnock, stonechat, blackcaps and more also breed in the grasslands and hedges whilst the old sheds are home to many pairs o swallows an other ir s The orchi rich grassland in the eastern part of the reserve is grazed from late summer on and supports a breeding population of marsh fritillary utter Irelan ’s onl le all rotecte insect.

For further information please contact: iwtlongfordwestmeath@gmail.com.

Marsh fritillary.

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

013 IWT WIn14_Branch Focus.indd 13

13

20/11/2014 10:27

WILD IDEAS

THE GREENWASHING of Irish agriculture Can Irish agriculture be successful and environmentally friendly?

Elaine Dromey examines the options.

14

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

014 IWT WIN14_Wild Ideas.indd 14

20/11/2014 10:28

WILD IDEAS

Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh.

//DID ANYONE STOP TO WORK OUT THE IMPACTS HAVING SUCH GREEN GRASS HAS ON OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND LANDSCAPE?// re uction tar ets o car on emissions Apparently the persistent lobbying by the Irish Farmers’ Association had persuaded Enda that agriculture was a special case and he was off to Europe to try to persuade them that we here in Ireland should be allowed a special dispensation because of our reliance on a riculture arentl Irelan will e permitted to offset its high proportion of forests, grasslands and bogs, which absorb carbon from the atmosphere, against high methane emissions attri ute to a riculture

Unsustainable Issues

I

reland has a reputation for being green; rolling hills of green, the Emerald Isle, shamroc s an cows in the fiel s ust how green is Ireland and is the green we have – the green we are promoting – the kind of green that is good for our environment?

We are repeatedly told that Irish farmers

are the guardians of the countryside, that these are the people who know and work in the en ironment an are est ualifie to loo a ter it et at the en o Octo er this year we were told that our Taoiseach Enda Kenny was off to the EU to seek a derogation for Irish agriculture in terms of meeting

//THE CONIFER PLANTATIONS SO COMMON ON OUR LANDSCAPE PROVIDE LITTLE OR NO BENEFITS FOR BIODIVERSITY. EMERGENT NATIVE WOODLAND OR ‘SCRUB’ IS UNDER CONSTANT ATTACK DUE TO THE CURRENT STRUCTURE OF AGRICULTURAL SUBSIDIES.//

I have a few problems with this idea of off-setting agricultural emissions, not least the fact that the habitats proposed to act as carbon stores are in such a poor state These ha itats are in act un er threat from the government’s plans for a ricultural intensification orests are ew and far between in Ireland with most of our woodland being monocultures of non-native conifer plantations managed unsustainably throu h clear ellin which releases O2 from soils The coni er lantations so common on our lan sca e ro i e little or no enefits or io i ersit mer ent nati e woo lan or ‘scrub’ is under constant attack due to the current structure o a ricultural su si ies Our o s are either cutawa com letel destroyed), in the process of being cutaway, drained or damaged through cutting by in i i uals or orestr lantations Our o s are currently emitting carbon so how on earth can we consider using them to offset emissions from agriculture?

Then on to our grasslands, our green grasslands much lauded by the agricultural sector and apparently suitable for offsetting

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

014 IWT WIN14_Wild Ideas.indd 15

15

20/11/2014 10:29

WILD IDEAS

5Forestry management in Connemara.

agricultural emissions. Did anyone stop to wor out the im acts ha in such reen grass has on our natural environment and landscape? Did they stop to consider how much artificial ertiliser ma e rom oil is use annuall to ee the fiel s reen Did they stop to consider the loss of species caused by these green grasslands; almost all of our farmland birds are declining at a very rapid rate and numbers of important ollinators li e ees are lower than e er before. Did they stop to consider how many carbon capturing hedgerows are lost every year in the creation of these green grasslands? How much diversity was lost when native grasslands were ploughed under a monoculture of perennial rye-grass in their place? How much more carbon would our wet grasslands and species-rich limestone grasslands capture? Even if they were to capture less carbon we would still be better off in terms of maintaining biodiversity and ecos stem ser ices li e water filtration We

16

would be farming more sustainably in a way compatible with protecting the environment; producing food but not shooting ourselves in the foot as we do it.

How can our agricultural industry be considered green and environmentally friendly when the Government’s Food Harvest 2020 will require more land and increase intensification This will result in a further reduction in hedgerows, scrub and native grasslands in addition to other rare and declining habitats. How can more cattle, leading to an increase in manure, be in any way positive for our groundwater?

Agricultural pollution is currently one of the main causes o un rin a le water in Ireland. How will they manage these aspects o intensification as our climate continues to change rapidly with increasing levels of rainfall? nother e am le o the lac o reen in our agricultural sector can be seen in the culling of badgers. The badger culling programme

//HOW CAN OUR AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY BE CONSIDERED GREEN AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WHEN THE GOVERNMENT’S FOOD HARVEST 2020 WILL REQUIRE MORE LAND AND INCREASED INTENSIFICATION? THIS WILL RESULT IN A FURTHER REDUCTION IN HEDGEROWS, SCRUB AND NATIVE GRASSLANDS IN ADDITION TO OTHER RARE AND DECLINING HABITATS.// has been running in Ireland since the 1980s and is carried out by the Department of Agriculture in intensively farmed areas. The science su ortin the e ficac o a er culling is somewhat questionable yet it continues simply because the agricultural sector demands it.

So how could we actually green agriculture in the true sense of the word? We could reduce water charges by paying the farmers to not drain their land, to have less cattle thereby reducing overgrazing and helping to improve water quality as well as help prevent oo in Instea o see in ero ations to protect the currently not very green a ricultural sector wh not loo to chan e our a roach erha s we shoul loo at a in farmers to provide ecosystem services and reward those farmers who are farming in a truly environmentally responsible manner.

Paying farmers to farm more sustainably coul hel in the fi ht a ainst climate chan e an rin tan i le enefits to Irish citi ens

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

014 IWT WIN14_Wild Ideas.indd 16

20/11/2014 10:30

n o i t i t e p m o C

COMPETITION

We have three great new books on Irish wildlife to give away this Christmas. Our first prize goes beyond learning how to identify birds and enters their private lives. Now you can know what they’re really getting up to in your garden! And while we all knew Dublin was a pretty wild place to hang out, Paul Hughes’ new book brings us faceto-face with all the drama and colour along one stretch of river in our capital. Finally, a new book from Juanita Brown introduces children to our native animals in all their glory.

Birds of the Homeplace – The Lives of Ireland’s Familiar Birds by Anthony McGeehan with Julian Wyllie.

Anthony McGeehan and Julian Wyllie take on the task of showcasing over seventy species, from coal tits which choose to drop more seed from feeders than they carry away, to Irish swallows which avoid dying from thirst while crossing the Sahara. Distinctive descriptions are complemented by stunning photographs.

Doorstep Wilderness – A Wilder Side of Dublin, by Paul Hughes.

This astonishing collection of photographs chronicles the wildlife in our nation’s capital along the River Dodder. Despite the density of houses, office blocks and commuter traffic, the creatures survive in small areas of greenery. The photographs, taken mostly on the River Dodder, explore the startling change in the circle of life as it unfolds through the four seasons and plays out between the wild creatures that reside on our doorstep.

My First Book of Irish Animals by Juanita Brown.

My First Book of Irish Animals is a beautiful picture book to introduce young children to our wonderful wildlife. Filled with fascinating facts and illustrated by Aoife Quinn, a very talented artist from Co. Wicklow, this unique book will capture the imagination of young children.

We have three copies of ‘Doorstep Wilderness’, two copies of ‘My First Book of Irish Animals’ and two copies of ‘Birds of the Homeplace’ to give away thanks to Collins Press. To be in with a chance to win one of them just answer the following question:

“What unlikely location is being promoted for its wildlife benefit in a new IWT project in 2015?”

Send your answer, name and address and the prize you would prefer to irishwildlife@iwt.ie before February 1st.

AUTUMN ISSUE WINNERS:

In our autumn issue we gave our readers a chance to win copies of the ‘Insects of Ireland’ or ‘The Woods of Ireland’. Our lucky winners correctly told us that there are a total of four species of ragwort found in Ireland.

The winners are Robert Gault from Craigavon, Co. Armagh, Pól Mac Cana from Belfast (Woods of Ireland); Katie Geraghty from Trim, Co. Meath and Rebecca Newman from Mayfield in Cork.

Congratulations and thanks to all who entered for your support of the IWT!

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

017 IWT WIN14_Competition.indd 17

17

20/11/2014 10:32

FEATURE

UNDER PRESSURE

the Atlantic salmon Ken Whelan examines the long term prospects and challenges for the Atlantic salmon.

A

tlantic salmon are regarded as a keystone species and play a unique and crucial role in our aquatic ecosystems. A superb biological indicator, their migration pathways traverse lakes, rivers, estuaries and the high seas. Tracking the movements and overall welfare of salmon stocks across these distinct environments can tell us a great deal about the health of our oceans and our freshwater resources.

Some 50 years ago the feeding grounds of the Atlantic salmon were discovered off the coasts of Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

For the next 20 years resource managers struggled to curtail and eventually eliminate the lar er o these hi h seas fisheries It was assumed that once this problem was solved, the stocks of Atlantic salmon would bounce back and we would see a level of abundance similar to that recorded throughout the early decades of the 20th century. However, recovery was painfully slow and it soon became obvious that man-made factors such as pollution, loss of salmon habitat, river impoundments and abstraction, and the growth of high seas aquaculture were all taking their toll locally on the remaining stocks of Atlantic salmon. Massive resources were poured into single issue campaigns an es ite si nificant successes the o erall

18

stocks of Atlantic salmon, particularly in the southernmost catchments of Europe and North America, remained stubbornly low.

Salmon Study As indices of marine survival were developed it became clear that despite the many, and at times very serious, local problems besetting stocks of Atlantic salmon, there was an overriding issue, or issues, impacting on the survival of Atlantic salmon at sea.

In the case of the Irish salmon which spend a little over one year at sea (grilse), marine survival has declined from a range of 15-25 per cent down to 8-12 per cent and at times has i e as low as fi e er cent sur i al Losing 95 per cent of the young salmon stock at sea is unprecedented.

In recent years a major marine study of salmon (SALSEA), was undertaken by the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Or anisation S O which efine or the first time the mi ration athwa s of salmon at sea. Studies on the growth, condition and survival of salmon at sea have clearly indicated a link with climate change, particularly the warming of the surface layers of the oceans. It is through these surface layers that the young salmon, or smolts, migrate northwards towards their

5Atlantic salmon moving upstream.

Photo Mike Brown.

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

018 IWT WIN14_Feature.indd 18

20/11/2014 10:34

FEATURE

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

018 IWT WIN14_Feature.indd 19

19

20/11/2014 10:35

FEATURE

feeding grounds. Warming of the ocean is also impacting on the food resources of the Atlantic Ocean, particularly in the eastern Atlantic. As is the case with many aspects of climate change, patterns are ever-changing and far from simple to interpret and fully un erstan While si nificant tren s can e picked out through detailed analysis of the scientific ata ariations in the o erall health and survival of young salmon on a year-onyear basis can cause confusion and at times

5Sampling for juvenile salmon on

the Zolotya (Golden) River on Russia’s Kola Peninsula (August 2014).

offer false hope that a recovery is under way.

In contrast a er oor first ear at sea or the salmon post-smolts may result in very low grilse returns, which often feeds speculation that the salmon as a species is endangered.

We have only studied salmon for the past 100 years and over this period they reached peak abundance in the 1960s. At this time there were approximately eight million adult Atlantic salmon in the North Atlantic but this has allen to some three million fish at present. In the eastern Atlantic, the stocks are hardest hit in the southern-most areas of the salmon’s ran e fish rom countries such as Spain, France, the UK and Ireland. Stocks in the more northerly countries, such as Norway, Finland and Russia, are apparently more stable. It is interesting to note that throughout the high seas surveys carried out

by NASCO, few juvenile salmon from these countries were encountered, despite the fact that vessels such as the Marine Institute’s RV Celtic Explorer sampled seas west of the far northern coasts of Norway. This clearly indicates that Atlantic salmon are foraging still further to the north. Experiments on adult salmon at sea using pop-up transmitter tags have shown that salmon may at times feed not alone along the edges of the Arctic ice fiel s ut at times un er the er ice itsel

Changing Climates Climate change may also be impacting in other ways on the overall survival of Atlantic salmon stocks. It has been known 20

for many years that larger salmon smolts survive better at sea. Recent studies have shown that warmer winter temperatures are increasing the growth rate of salmon parr in fresh water and a higher percentage of the fish are mi ratin to sea as smaller one ear old salmon smolts. It is clear from recent research that due to predicted changes in a range of key environmental factors, salmon ma fin li e in resh water articularl in smaller rivers and streams, increasingly challenging over the coming decades.

The most comprehensive study of likely future climate change impacts on Irish freshwater systems was recently carried through the RESCALE Project. This study sought to downscale global climate models to accommodate a single catchment and to examine the long-term prospects for the salmonid stocks in such a discrete geographical area. This work was made possible by the unique 50-year climatological and environmental dataset available from the Burrishoole index catchment, situated near Newport in Co. Mayo. The study looked at changes from the present day to the end of the century using parameters such as air temperature, water temperature and h rolo inclu in ri er ow an issol e oxygen levels. The research has shown that over the coming decades water temperatures will rise an ow rates are li el to chan e ra icall with hi her winter ows an ar lower summer ows There was clear evidence that both salmon and trout may be in a position to adapt to the predicted changes in the annual temperature regime ut ma fin chan es relatin to hi h an low ow con itions ar more ro lematic

The Challenges Ahead What are the management implications of this research over the decades to come? And, most importantly, what exactly can we do to protect and support our salmon at this time of change?

There is no doubt that in the face of severe challenges the abundance of any animal population is bound to drop, initially at least.

The fish are ma in mista es in the ocean they are getting lost, they are dying because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time ailin to fin oo or encounterin increased predation. But, critically, as a population they are learning – learning how and when to adapt. Such adaptation takes time and we have no idea how long it took for past adaptations to take effect.

Our challenge is to lift the man-made pressures currently on the populations at risk

5 Capelin – a favourite food

of Atlantic salmon at sea.

so as to give them time and space to adapt and to recover. Management actions will primarily take place in freshwater, where optimising smolt output is fundamental to at least partially countering the effects of climate change. However, there are

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

018 IWT WIN14_Feature.indd 20

20/11/2014 10:35

FEATURE

5The author with a 10kg salmon from the Eastern

Litsa River, Kola Peninsula (August 2014).

also direct actions we can take to reduce mortalit at sea such as the uantification and elimination of salmon by-catch in the reat marine ela ic fisheries Salmon scientists must also link more closely with their marine science colleagues to ensure that the salmon is universally accepted as a legitimate member of the ela ic amil o fishes We must ar ue strongly that those funded to study the changing oceans, and particularly the impact of such changes on the pelagic ecosystem, are charged with monitoring the welfare of our salmon at sea. It is sad to relate that despite our new knowledge regarding salmon migration corridors and a much more detailed understanding of the

actors in uencin the rowth an sur i al of post-smolts at sea, we have not, since 2009, carried out any further monitoring of our salmon stocks in the ocean. Each year regular monitoring of the commercial pelagic stocks is ongoing in the ocean. If, at relatively low cost, the sampling of salmon migration corridors was included in the annual pelagic monitoring programmes it could provide vital information to salmon managers on the success of individual year classes of postsmolts at sea and the likely overall survival of adult salmon back to their rivers of origin.

As outlined previously freshwater temperatures are rising, smolts are growing faster and the smolt age is dropping.

Countering the effects of increasing water

temperature through providing cover and shading and ensuring that abstraction and water regulation are done in a manner which ensures overall temperature stability are just some of the actions that must now be prioritised.

We have long talked about the impacts of pollution, impoundments, habitat loss and aquaculture on the marine and freshwater environments, and perhaps in the past believed that we had the luxury of time to deal with these issues. In the face of what we have recently learnt about the salmon stocks that are under pressure and the stocks at risk at sea, taking urgent management action in these areas is no longer a choice – it is an imperative.

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

018 IWT WIN14_Feature.indd 21

21

20/11/2014 10:37

EXPLORING WILDLIFE

ANIMATED ART

of the

DEAD ZOO Gordon D’Arcy reflects on the dying art of taxidermy.

I

tried it myself – once. A knot, a small shorebird, shot accidentally by a wildfowler, presented fresh and almost unmarked to me was subjected to the process.

Following consultation with a manual on the subject, I put aside my squeamishness and succeeded in removing the innards without seriously damaging the skin. This was followed by the preservation process: formalin dripped into the skull cavity and crushed alum crystals rubbed thoroughly on the inside of the skin. Next came the wiring; one piece connecting the skull to the tail becoming the new backbone. This was linked by separate wires, one securing the wings in place and two others pushed down into and through the tarsi for standing pose. Finally the o ca it fille with sterile cotton wool and stitched along the initial suture, was ready for mounting. My optimism was soon quelled when my specimen’s head drooped to one side, one wing sat inches below the other and despite my best efforts it refused to stand.

All-in-all it bore more resemblance to a grey shuttlecock than to an elegant wader; my stuffed knot was not good.

DYING ART My hands-on experience had taught me that taxidermy was more an art than a skill.

Nowadays I regularly come across the work of amateur taxidermists. Many, through constant practice and improvement, have taken the skill to a moderately high level, but 22

few could be described as artists. It is one of those activities, like stained glass manufacture or embroidery, that still continues to be practised but has generally slipped to a lower level of expertise than formerly.

Irish taxidermy had its heyday in Victorian times articularl in the first eca es o the 20th century. During those years two great families, Williams of Dame Street in Dublin and Sheals of Belfast, vied with one another for business and reputation.

Initially, like Sarah Purser’s stained glass, demand was local but latterly through the growing reputation for quality it gained worldwide appeal. Taxidermy had been ele ate to the status o fine art It ha become a fashion and no grand country house was complete without its stuffed bird or animal (or collection thereof) by Sheals or Williams. Some of the best of their work is on permanent exhibition in Dublin’s Natural History museum (rather disparagingly referred to as the ‘Dead Zoo’) and in the Ulster Museum in Belfast. In the former, the family dioramas of otters, foxes and badgers, though somewhat sentimentally arranged, are so lifelike as to draw inevitable admiration from visitors. Sheals’ century-old birds are presented in such feather-perfect pose as to have the viewer gaze in disbelief at their beauty.

Unlike the continuing use of stuffed specimens as effective vectors of familiarity mainly for educational purposes, this work

was clearly designed as art, for eye-catching decorative purposes.

THE DARKER SIDE Unfortunately it was also seen as a vehicle of aggrandisement. A stuffed pine marten a o e the fire lace an a mira le conversation piece – imbued the owner with the status of country gentleman, in control of predators in his demesne. The employment of a gamekeeper with a brief to eradicate any furred or feathered threat to game further consolidated the owner’s power. A stuffed raptor in a hotel in the west of Ireland, is proudly labelled as ‘The

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

022 IWT WIN14_Exploring Wildlife.indd 22

20/11/2014 10:39

EXPLORING WILDLIFE

5The Natural History Museum of Ireland. Photo: Neil Turner/Flickr.

Inset: Stuffed gray wolf. Photo: Liné1/Wikicommons.

last golden eagle to be shot in Connemara’. ir s also fi ure as curiosities in i ouse collections fine ittern shot in Irelan an oun in the ore ooth collection in issa ell ouse an another recentl re isco ere in a th centur collection in a ua er school in Water or resonate with oi nanc since itterns no lon er resi e in Irelan ha in een remo e the istur ance cause wetlan raina e an the in iscriminate acti it o wil owlers These fin in s in icate the e istence o other or otten auna in ri ate collections in ust attics an asements that mi ht o er a win ow into the ast an hel to

cast li ht on some une laine m steries re there or instance an s ins o Irish re s uirrels e ore the re ute l ecame e tinct in the mi th centur n on a more intri uin note what ha ene to s ecimens o the Irish wol i en that the wol was wi e out e ore the o ularisation o mounte s ecimens It is nown to ha e sur i e in the wil in Irelan into the earl th centur Its s ins were an im ortant item o e ort or arments or aristocrats throu hout the latter i le es to n lan where e termination o the wol ha occurre centuries e ore erha s a clue to the answer can e oun in Strin er’s n e erience

untsman’ the meticulous recor o a ame ee er on a o rma h estate written in when wol es un ou te l still e iste in Irelan The a sence o an re erence to wol es in icates to m min not onl the o ium in which the re ator was hel ut erha s also the otential sli ht on this ame ee er’s e ficienc an re utation in e en mentionin this es ica le o n ou te l awareness o the stea e letion o s ecies at the to o the oo chain with rowin concern or the e ects o ha itat estruction cou le with e er chan in ashion actors in the ecline in the art o ta i erm Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

022 IWT WIN14_Exploring Wildlife.indd 23

23

20/11/2014 10:41

WINTER FOCUS

A TIME TO Can we successfully face up to the challenges posed by climate change? Billy Flynn reports.

T

he challenges that await us if we are to tackle climate change have been made clear. Early in November, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its latest synthesis re ort This re ort the fi th o its in ulls to ether the fin in s o three i erent working groups on the underlying science of climate change, its impacts and how they may be addressed. There is now almost complete consensus among the world’s climate scientists on the reality of climate change and its causes. In a subtle but crucial change in language, the report states that the burning of coal, gas and other fossil fuels is ‘extremely likely’ to have been the primary cause of climate change in recent decades.

However, the greatest impact of this report on our approach to climate change lies in the starkest warnings yet on what we must do to avoid irreversible or ‘runaway’ effects of climate change such as the large-scale melting of polar ice or multiple extinctions.

Call to Action The report couldn’t be clearer in terms of what the world must do. In order to avoid a global temperature rise of over two 24

degrees Celsius, we must cut greenhouse gas emissions by between 40-70 per cent by 2050. But that’s only half the battle. We must then eliminate all unmanaged greenhouse gas emissions by 2100. On the face of it, this would appear to be a massive challenge.

Any efforts to meet these targets will rely on a huge adoption of renewable energy sources, and soon. Massive investment in ‘green’ energy will be needed by governments and industry. The report leaves the door open for carbon capture. However this is largely unteste as a technolo ical fi I e ecti e ways of capturing and storing carbon aren’t found, it will mean the end of the use of coal and gas as a means of electricity generation.

The current targets would also mean a greater role for nuclear power as a means of supply in the absence of fossil fuels.

While the report will probably not silence all the so-called climate change sceptics, there is certainly no confusion or obfuscation in terms of what the IPCC believes we must do.

“Science has spoken. There is no ambiguity in their message,” United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon said in a news conference in Copenhagen. “Leaders must act; time is not on our side.”

The next step So where to next? Paris in 2015 will now be the venue for the most important round of negotiations so far. The main hurdles ahead now are political. Getting the world’s most industrialised and populous countries to agree to the most rigorous targets yet will be no small task. The Kyoto Protocol was never ratifie the nite States then the worl ’s

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

024 IWT WIN14_Winter Focus.indd 24

20/11/2014 10:43

WINTER FOCUS

CHANGE 5 UN Climate Summit

2014. Photo: Cia Pak.

5 Protest rally in Washington D.C.

Photo: Stephen Melkisethian.

largest producer of greenhouse gases, or by China, which is now in the number one spot.

The meeting of these targets, even by highly developed countries such as Germany which has substantially moved away from nuclear energy, will be a mammoth task. On the other side of the scale, the report stresses that even developing countries will be required to

//IN A SUBTLE BUT CRUCIAL CHANGE IN LANGUAGE, THE REPORT STATES THAT THE BURNING OF COAL, GAS AND OTHER FOSSIL FUELS IS ‘EXTREMELY LIKELY’ TO HAVE BEEN THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN RECENT DECADES.//

cut and eventually eliminate emissions.

However there is good news. While these desperately ambitious measures could well save the planet, they won’t cost the earth. Far from, it seems. The IPCC has calculated that the moves required will cost less than 0.6 per cent of global consumption growth per year.

This, it states, will be a vastly smaller price to pay than dealing with the consequences of unchecked climate change.

These include loss of productive lands, crop failures, storm damage and the spread of diseases.

While we might now think that the tasks ahead of us are gargantuan, it’s now clear that we have really only one course of action to take. We now know that there is no longer any excuse for inaction.

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

024 IWT WIN14_Winter Focus.indd 25

25

20/11/2014 10:44

FIELD REPORT

S toa ts

TRACKING IRELAND’S

The Irish Stoat Project is underway, and needs the public’s assistance, writes Laura Flynn.

T

he Irish Stoat Project has been launched by the Animal Ecology and Conservation group at NUI Galway and researchers are appealing to the public to report any stoat sightings in Ireland. This research is being carried out in collaboration with the Vincent Wildlife Trust, a charity that has been at

the forefront of mammal conservation in Ireland and the UK for over 35 years, and aims to provide crucial information on the ecology of this elusive mammal.

One of Ireland’s true native species, the Irish stoat has been present on the island since before the last Ice Age and represents part of an old ecosystem which existed in

Below and right: Irish stoat. All photos by Dermot Breen.

Ireland in the early post-glacial period, long before the arrival of Mesolithic man.

Fossil bones of the animal have been found in two caves in Co. Cork; one set dating to between 27,000 and 35,000 years ago, and a second set dating to 10,680 years ago.

The stoat in Ireland is recognised as an endemic subspecies, quite distinct in both morphology and ecology from those found in ritain an urther afiel It has een isolated on the island for a very long time, so we really can claim it as our own!

Mysterious Mustelid This native mammal is an important element of Irish biodiversity and a protected species, yet we know so little about them. This is partly due to the i ficult in stu in an elusi e s ecies which is challenging to handle. There is a particular lack of information on stoat ecology, and a real need for information on the distribution, habitat requirements and population dynamics of this important animal. There is no population estimate available for the species in Ireland; we truly have no idea how many there are.

Stoats are predators belonging to the Mustelid family. Often mistakenly called weasels, there are in fact no weasels in Ireland. The Irish stoat is capable of killing prey several times its own size and its varied iet inclu es ra its rats mice shrews fish and invertebrates. Although small, these animals are highly successful predators, tiny but mighty! It avoids open areas, so uses features such as hedgerows and stone walls to move through the landscape. Although an adaptable and opportunistic animal, it is thought to have been badly affected by the introduction of myxomatosis to the rabbit population. There is however no 26

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

026 IWT WIN14_Field Report.indd 26

20/11/2014 10:45

FIELD REPORT

//ONE OF IRELAND’S TRUE NATIVE SPECIES, THE IRISH STOAT HAS BEEN PRESENT ON THE ISLAND SINCE BEFORE THE LAST ICE AGE...// information on the current status of the population.

About 30cm long with a long slim body and short legs, the stoat has a chestnut brown upper body and a white belly, with some white on the chin and ears. The distinctive black tip to the tail is a classic characteristic of stoats. Unlike other stoats, the Irish native is adapted to the lack of sitting snow, hence it does not turn white as winter approaches. One of the stoat’s most recognisable traits is its quick, darting movements and it often stands up on its hind legs (periscopes) when on the move.

Enlisting Help The project is being conducted by PhD student Laura O’Flynn and Dr Colin Lawton. A key element of the research incorporates the use of ‘Citizen Science’.

This is an opportunity for members of the public to pass on their sightings and

experiences of the animal, and thereby contribute to vital conservation research.

Information on the locations where stoats have been seen, the habitats they are most frequently using and behavioural observations are of great use to the research team.

The construction of an all-island stoat distribution map is already underway, based on sightings reports. There has been a phenomenal response from the public so far, and a very positive one. People have been getting in touch with sightings, stories, photos and even some video footage. One interesting development is the amount of sightings coming from urban areas. These include records from very busy industrial locations as well as residential housing estates. Of course the vast majority of sightings are in rural areas, but there’s no

doubt that the Irish stoat has become more urbanised than previously thought.

It’s still early days for this research, but the response from the public so far has been invaluable. Exciting times lie ahead, and an opportunity to gain essential knowledge about one of Ireland’s true natives. This project will give us a fascinating insight into how Irish stoats are interacting and using habitats, particularly in this changing landscape of ours.

There are a number of ways in which you can submit information to the project: Online survey: Irish Stoat Survey Facebook: Irish Stoat Project Email: irishstoatsurvey@gmail.com Phone: 091 492903 or 086 0660208 (Laura O’Flynn, Animal Ecology & Conservation Group, NUI Galway)

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

026 IWT WIN14_Field Report.indd 27

27

20/11/2014 10:45

MEMBERS’ LETTERS

OVER TO YOU As the autumn leaves give way to the short days of winter, here at the IWT we have no intention of hibernating. There’s just as much to look at in nature during the winter, the only bummer is there’s less time in which to do it! So don’t sit back and relax, get outside and send us your photos, questions and quirky conundrums. Email irishwildlife@iwt.ie

COVERT CATERPILLAR Dear IWT, I would like to know if you could identify this caterpillar for my sister. She found it on a potted shrub that came from a garden centre in Ardfert, Co. Kerry.

Many thanks for your time.

Jennifer Reidy Hi Jennifer, What an amazing looking caterpillar! We asked our friends in Moths Ireland to identify it for us and Philip Strickland told us it is a peppered moth, common enough apparently. Thanks a lot for sending it on and we would encourage you to log your sighting on the website of the National Biodiversity Data Centre: records.biodiversityireland.ie All the best, IWT

Curious Crustaceans Dear IWT I am enclosing photos of an animal or fish found in a local stream. Can you help me to identify this animal as it looks like a miniature lobster to me.

James Johnston

Hi James, it looks like what you have there is a freshwater crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes). It is not uncommon in lakes and rivers on limestone parts of Ireland. Perhaps it is not native to Ireland but it has been here for a very long time (possibly brought here by monks), and is protected under EU legislation.

Thanks for getting in touch!

IWT

28

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

029 IWT WIN14_Over to You.indd 28

20/11/2014 10:47

MEMBERS’ LETTERS

HARE TODAY, GONE

TOMORROW Hi IWT, We live near Ballymoney, Co Wexford, near several golf courses.

We are lucky enough to have hares coming close by our house and feeding under the kitchen window most mornings. I am attaching some photographs I took in the spring of a group of them taken from our kitchen.

Unfortunately, today we found a young hare dead very close to where those photographs were taken. That prompted this email to see if there is a suitable food we could leave out, e.g. dried rabbit food, to help build them up for the colder weather and winter ahead.

Sam & Lelia Warner

Hi Sam & Leila, of Thanks for your email and photos – you’re very lucky to have such a display be local wildlife! There is no need to leave out food for the hares as they will are hares able to fend for themselves. In any case we have heard of no food that interested in. Seems they just like fresh grass.

IWT

Remember, if you have a story, question, or an image you’d like to share with us, or, God forbid, even a complaint, send it to irishwildlife@iwt.ie

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

029 IWT WIN14_Over to You.indd 29

29

20/11/2014 10:48

IWT EVENTS

Events WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WATERFORD The Waterford Branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust will hold the following events during the winter months: DECEMBER WALK Date/time: Sun December 14th; 1.30pm Venue: Cheekpoint Marsh Meeting Point: Harbour, Cheekpoint, Co. Waterford. Cheekpoint is 11 kms from Waterford City. Follow the Dunmore Road past the Regional Hospital and follow the signs from there. A multi-faceted 2.5 hour walk taking in Cheekpoint Marsh, part of the Lower Suir SAC, and the Minaun mixed woodlands.

Level: easy to moderate. This is our ‘mince pie’ walk so please plan on staying a little longer after the walk.

JANUARY WALK Date/time: Sun January 11th, 2015; 1.30pm Venue: Tramore Meeting Point: East end of Tramore Promenade near the Surf Centre.

Tramore, Co Waterford is 11 kms from Waterford City and is well signposted.

A 2.5 hour walk out along the backstrand and back to starting point via the ocean side of the strand. A good bracing walk to start the year.

Level: Easy FEBRUARY WALK Date/time: Sun February 8th; 1.30pm Venue: Dungarvan Bay Meeting Point: Public car park under St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, Quay Street at the outer end of Dungarvan Quay, past Dungarvan Castle.

A 2.5 hour circular walk along Dungarvan Bay, Co Waterford, an SPA of considerable bird interest and back to Dungarvan via the Causeway. Suitable footwear essential for shore walking.

Level: Easy.

MARCH WALK Date/time: Sun March 8th; 2.30pm Venue: Anne Valley Meeting Point: Car park, Anne Valley 30

From quarry clean ups in Cork to the wildlife of Westmeath, there are plenty of activities for nature enthusiasts this spring.

Walkway, Dunhill, Co Waterford. Dunhill is 15km from Waterford City and is well signposted off the Cork Road from the city. Turn off near the old Waterford Crystal site just before the Cork Road Campus of WIT. A 2.5 hour walk through the Integrated Constructed Wetlands of the beautiful Anne Valley to Dunhill Castle and back.

Level: Easy.

Talks and other Events: A programme of monthly talks takes place in the Coastguard station, Tramore. Please see irishwildlifetrust.blogspot.com for details of this programme.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN LONGFORD/WESTMEATH DECEMBER WILDLIFE OF WESTMEATH Date/time: Wed December 3rd; 8pm Venue: Prince of Wales Hotel, Athlone JANUARY BIRDWATCHING Date/time: Sat January 10th; 2pm Venue: Glen Lake We will be joining BirdWatch Ireland for birdwatching at Glen Lake, 2pm.

For our other monthly events please check our branch Facebook page or contact iwtlongfordwestmeath@gmail.com WHAT’S HAPPENING IN LAOIS/OFFALY JANUARY WILDLIFE TALK Date/time: Tues January 27th; 8pm Venue: Portlaoise Library We welcome you to attend a talk on ‘Rescuing Wildlife’ by Kildare Animal Foundation Wildlife Unit volunteers.

FEBRUARY WILDLIFE TALK Date/time: Thurs February 19th; 8pm Venue: Tullamore Library Jason Monaghan, NPWS conservation ranger, will give a talk on ‘Protecting the wildlife and habitats of the Slieve Bloom’.

MARCH WORKSHOP

Date/time: TBC (late March) Venue: TBC (Abbeyleix) Come take part in a mammal ID and monitoring workshop with Abbeyleix Bog Project and led by Dr Denise O’Meara.

BADGER CLUB EVENTS January – Bird Box Build, Sat Jan 31st, venue TBC February – Pond life, dipping and discovery, Sun Feb 22nd, venue TBC March – Tree Planting Day, Sun March 22nd, venue TBC WHAT’S HAPPENING IN CORK DECEMBER CHRISTMAS SOCIAL Date/time: Fri December 5th; 7pm-late Venue: The Hawthorne Bar, The Lough, Cork Come along to our Christmas social on the 5th of December. This will be a great event with prizes, games and our annual Christmas quiz. Finger food will be provided. For further information or to book, contact: corkbranch@gmail.com or on Facebook Irish Wildlife Trust - Cork Branch.

WILDLIFE TALK Date/time: Mon December 15th; 7.30pm Venue: Cork County Cricket Club, Richard Beamish Grounds, Mardyke Walk, Cork City.

Cost: Entry by donation The Impact of Wolves in the American West – a talk by Carolyn Shores from The Washington Wolf Project and Shane White, wildlife biologist in Canada. Carolyn, a PhD student from Washington University, will talk about her research on the ecological impacts of wolf recolonisation. Shane is a UCC graduate and will share his experience in tracking and trapping wolves. For further information or to book a place, email: corkbranch@gmail.com or on Facebook Irish Wildlife Trust - Cork Branch.

JANUARY BEAUMONT QUARRY LAUNCH Date/time: Early January, TBC This event will see the launch of the Beaumont Quarry Education Pack.

Irish Wildlife WIinter ‘14

030 IWT WIN14_Events.indd 30

20/11/2014 10:50

IWT EVENTS

For further information please contact the branch at email: corkbranch@gmail.com or on Facebook Irish Wildlife Trust - Cork Branch.

IWT STALL Date/time: Sat January 10th Venue: Wilton Shopping Centre, Cork City Come to our stall in Wilton shopping centre and find out more about what we do in IWT, how to join the IWT and how to become involved. We are here to answer any of your IWT questions.

For further information please contact the branch at email: corkbranch@gmail.com or on Facebook Irish Wildlife Trust - Cork Branch.

BEAUMONT QUARRY CLEAN-UP Date/time: Sat January 17th; 10.30am-1pm Venue: Beaumont Quarry, Cork Cost: Free, donations welcome This event will be led by Jo Goodyear. Meet at Spar on Beaumont Drive/#202 bus stop.

Clothing worn at this event should be suitable for the outdoors. We recommend stout shoes, old clothes, and rain gear.

We will provide gloves, hi-vis vests, bags and litter pickers. This is a fun event whilst at the same time helping to manage this wonderful site. For any further queries contact Jo Goodyear 085-7276738, email: corkbranch@gmail.com or on Facebook Irish Wildlife Trust - Cork Branch.

LICHEN WALK Date/time: Sat January 24th; 11am Venue: Roche’s Point, Co. Cork Cost: Free, donations welcome We are very fortunate to have Paul Whelan as our guide for this event. He has a keen interest in nature and is a lichenologist, who manages several websites relating to the natural world. He is the author of ‘Lichens of Ireland’, a wonderful visual guide to Irish lichens, which explains how to look for them and how to collect specimens. This

5Red squirrel. Photo: Greg Clarke via Flickr.

is guaranteed to be a very informative and interesting event not to be missed. Clothing worn for this event should be suitable for the outdoors bring walking shoes and a raincoat.

For further information or to book a place, please contact the branch at email: corkbranch@gmail.com or on Facebook Irish Wildlife Trust - Cork Branch.

GUIDED BIRD WALK Date/time: Sun January 25th; TBC Venue: Ballycotton, East Cork Cost: Free, donations welcomed We are very fortunate to have Pat Smiddy as our guide for this event. He is a keen ornithologist who has a wealth of bird knowledge. This is guaranteed to be a very informative and interesting event not to be missed.

Directions for Ballinamona Strand; from Midleton take R629 to Cloyne; then take a left in village on same road number to Shanagarry (do not forget to bear right at Ballymaloe House entrance gate); take a right at Shanagarry petrol station and shop, continue for 1km and take the first left; it is then 1km to beach. Clothing worn for this event should be suitable for the outdoors; bring walking shoes and a raincoat. For further information or to book a place, please contact the branch at email: corkbranch@gmail.com or on Facebook Irish Wildlife Trust - Cork Branch.

FEBRUARY SQUIRREL TALK Date/time: TBC Venue: TBC Cost: Free, donations welcome We are very fortunate to have Denise O’Meara as our speaker. Denise works as a project officer for the Mammals in a Sustainable Environment (MISE) project, based at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), Ireland. MISE is a scientific outreach and education project that aims to increase awareness of mammals in Ireland and Wales through the organisation of wildlife surveys and events. Denise has experience surveying for many native mammals including otters, pine marten, and squirrels using non-invasive survey techniques complimented with DNA verification of field evidence such as faeces and hair.

For any further queries or to book a place, email: corkbranch@gmail.comor on Facebook Irish Wildlife Trust - Cork Branch.

5 Dungarvan Bay. Photo: Paul Casey via Flickr.

BEAUMONT QUARRY TALK Date/time: Thurs February 5th; TBC Venue: TBC Cost: Free, donations welcome This is great opportunity to learn more about Beaumont quarry and the work we have done at the site with the many local volunteers. Our speaker for the evening is Jo Goodyear, the IWT project coordinator for Beaumont quarry. Jo is a botanist and herbalist and has spent a number of years working with us on the site. This is guaranteed to be a fascinating and informative talk.

For any further queries or to book a place, email: corkbranch@gmail.com or on Facebook Irish Wildlife Trust - Cork Branch BEAUMONT QUARRY CLEAN UP Date/time: Sat February 21st; 10.30am-1pm Venue: Beaumont Quarry, Cork Cost: Free, donations welcome Clothing worn at this event should be suitable for the outdoors. We recommend stout shoes, old clothes, and rain gear. We will provide gloves, hi-vis vests, bags and litter pickers. Meet at Spar on Beaumont Drive / #202 bus stop. This is a fun event whilst at the same time helping to manage this wonderful site. For any further queries contact Jo Goodyear 085-7276738, email: corkbranch@gmail.com or on Facebook Irish Wildlife Trust - Cork Branch PLEASE CONTACT THE CORK BRANCH AT CORKBRANCH@GMAIL.COM OR ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST – CORK BRANCH FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE ABOVE EVENTS, OR IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER WHAT’S HAPPENING IN KERRY JANUARY WILDLIFE GARDENING Date/time: Thurs January 22nd; 7.30pm Venue: Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre This practical talk will covering the following topics: native plants, beneficial insects, practical tips on pond construction and maintenance and nestbox building.

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

030 IWT WIN14_Events.indd 31

31

20/11/2014 12:08

ON LOCATION

WHAT’S ALL THE CHATTERING ABOUT?

5 Male stonechat by Andrew Kelly.

Dr Sinead Cummins introduces us to the charms of the small, but distinctly audible, stonechat.

T

his summer, along a coastal path in Co. Wicklow lined with gorse, brambles and some ubiquitous fence posts, the familiar sound, ‘clack- clack’, like two stones being struck together alerts me to the presence of a male stonechat alarming against an intruder on its territory – that’s me!

It’s a heart-warming sound as these remar a le ir s ha e su ere si nificant declines, particularly in recent years.

Surviving on a diet of insects, they are highly susceptible to prolonged periods of cold weather when the are una le to fin enou h food. To alleviate such risks, stonechats tend to move to coastal areas where ground temperatures are a few degrees higher, with some travelling to warmer climes further south (Spain and Portugal) altogether.

The male stonechat is a smart looking bird, with a distinctive black head, white incomplete neck collar and pale rump and chestnut coloured breast – he could

32

be described as a ‘bird with attitude’. The female with a more mottled brown head is less conspicuous and she needs to be, as she incubates each clutch of eggs during their long breeding season from March to July.

The stamina and energy of stonechats is to be admired. Pairs defend territories, both breeding and wintering, with the utmost of vigilance and much vocalisation. Males are attentive to their partners, shepherding them around the territory while they feed, particularly during the incubation and chickrearing stages.

On that summer’s day, walking along the coastal path, I am reminded of what good parents they are and from the agitated and persistent calls of the male, as he tries to see me o I now wh as oun e e chic s call near Stonechats are efinitel committed to parenthood. Rearing up to three roo s o oun each ear is efinitel to their advantage allowing the population to offset high levels of predation, so typical

of many ground nesters, and to bounce back after cold winters. Colour-ringing of individual birds has shown that not all males are faithful. Some take on an extra partner, as I was once witness to, having marked a local population near Cork Harbour in the late 1990s. Extra partners mean extra work as males defend and help provision additional broods of young. However, obviously for some, the pay-off is worth the additional energy spent allowing more promiscuous males to pass on their genes to more young.

So where is best to look out for stonechats?

Preferring patches of unkempt grassland, usually with gorse, bracken, and bramble, stonechats can be found anywhere from upland heaths to farmland (particularly on less intensive farms) to coastal paths. They are excellent aerial foragers; watching them e ertl catch insects in throu h the air is efinitel a ast time I ne er tire o eminiscent o a um le ee in i ht the seem to buzz from one perch to another while they eke out their prey. Their habit of perching on fence posts or the tops of gorse/ bramble bushes gives the passerby some fantastic views and that wonderful ‘clackclack’ sound.

Irish Wildlife Winter ‘14

032 IWT WIN14_On Location.indd 32

20/11/2014 10:52

Untitled-1 1 Spring 14 Final Version.indd 2 IWT cover Winter 13.indd 4

20/11/2014 11:13 2/9/14 09:46:00 26/11/2013 14:28

Help support Irish Wildlife this Christmas by giving the gi9 of membership.

Gi9 members receive all the benefits of being an IWT member, including our quarterly ‘Irish Wildlife’ magazine. The gi9 includes a special Christmas card for you to present to your family member or friend.

See our range of Christmas gi9 ideas at www.iwt.ie/shop

Or make a gi9 dona@on to the IWT. We will send you a cer@ficate of your dona@on to send to your family member or friend.

Untitled-1 1

20/11/2014 11:12