ANNUAL REVIEW 2021
Biodiversity Oasis in Limerick by Eve Howard, Environmental Manager, Irish Cement Limerick AN ABUNDANCE OF NATURE Since the winter of 2020, a panel of expert biologists and ecologists have been undertaking detailed biodiversity surveys and habitat mapping on the Irish Cement site in Limerick. To their amazement they have discovered a rich variety of habitats, wildlife and plants living close to this industrial site, something they did not expect when they were first contracted to carry out this survey work. Their work will continue for the remainder of 2021 and their findings and guidance will be used to help draft a Biodiversity Strategy for the site. The survey work started last winter with an assessment of wintering wildfowl using the man-made lakes and Irish Cement lands. Among the ducks and geese were flocks of Whooper Swans. The Whooper Swan is a winter visitor to Ireland from Western Iceland where they breed during the summer. The 8th International Swan Census completed during January 2020 recorded 19,111 Whooper Swans throughout Ireland. Some of these Whooper Swans over-winter along the Shannon Estuary with approximately 200 spending their time on the Irish Cement farmland in Cooperhill. For the swans the location is ideal with undisturbed feeding and roosting on the lush pastureland protected by waterfilled drainage ditches and streams. To understand the migration patterns and behaviours ornithologists from the UK,
Young hare sitting among the wildflowers in Irish Cement Limerick. Photo credit Sheena Jolley
Iceland and Ireland have for many years been putting easily identifiable leg rings on some of these swans. The data from field observations of these ringed swans has revealed that they travel to the same areas each winter with one swan which wintered in Cooperhill estimated to have flown over 50,000 kilometres from Iceland to Ireland over a 15-year period. The swans remained on the Irish Cement land until mid-April when they departed on their northward journey to Iceland once more. Spring saw the return of summer migrants and the start of breeding season for resident birds. A wide variety of bird species have been recorded breeding on the site from Peregrine
Whooper Swans on Irish Cement lands. Photo credit John N Murphy.
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Falcons and Sand Martins in the quarry to ducks and water birds on the lakes. There are woodland and grassland species and even Ringed Plover, which normally nests on shingle beaches, recorded nesting on the quarry floor. Some have been easy to spot and identify and some are much more elusive with only fleeting glimpses of Barn Owls for example and the occasional bright blue flash of the Kingfishers as they dart across Bunlicky Lake. Over 80 species of birds have been recorded on site since last December. What has been most pleasing to us in Limerick is the range of large mammals
Female Emperor dragon fly laying eggs under the water. Photo credit Sheena Jolley
