ISSN - 1649 - 5705 • AUTUMN ’19
IRISH MAGAZINE OF THE IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST
S AND’ L E R I
TE S BIE F I LDL E W
AZIN MAG
IN THIS ISSUE: • Field of dreams • Oyster mushrooms • Waterford Greenway GET WINTER-READY IN THE GARDEN
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A WALK IN THE WOODS
A DOG’S LIFE
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WELCOME
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By Billy Flynn, IWT Vice-chair Cover credits: Red deer calf (David Ahern) Oyster mushrooms (Roger Overall) Waterford Greenway (John Foley) Contents page credits: Red squirrel (Bren Whelan) Mute Swan (Philomena Brady) Collared Earth Star fungi (Josef F. Stuefer) Turkey Tail fungi (Jerzy Opioła)
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W
elcome to the Autumn edition of Irish Wildlife. Arguably the most colourful of the seasons, autumn has certainly not disappointed this year. All around the country, members have reported amazing displays of fruit, berries and leaves in vivid hues. Hawthorn hedgerows that were only a few weeks ago lines of solid green are now deep red rows laden with fruit. The colours of the season are a wonderful consolation for those lovers of summer who mourn the departure of brighter days. As the days darken and our gardens grow quieter, there is much we can still do to make our own private nature reserves better for wildlife. Ricky Whelan tells us how we can enhance our gardens from wildflower seeding to erecting bat roost boxes. Few would argue that 2019 has been a good year for wildlife on a global scale. Report after report has recounted declines of species and habitats, some of which we had believed secure. The oncefamiliar Curlew is an Irish species that has seen dramatic declines that we are struggling to counter. We will not have long to wait to see whether our efforts have been sufficient to save this bird. The IWT has been campaigning for more protection of our marine habitats with our Bigger and Better Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). In this issue, we provide an account of some of our work on this campaign to date. We rely on our seas more than most of us realise and a healthier marine ecosystem will have long-term benefits on a global scale. Re-wildling has made the news of late. Our own Padraig Fogarty has for some
time promoted the cause of returning wide swathes of Ireland to their formerly wild condition and this is now being discussed in public fora. Across Europe, re-wilding has seen some significant successes. The Grey Wolf has begun to return to western European countries and its attendant ecological benefits are being recorded and promoted elsewhere. Is it time to consider if we are ready for such a dramatic predator to return? Martina Caplice gives us the benefit of her experience with another top canine in a fascinating article on the Coyotes of North America. A wonderful addition to our transport infrastructure has been the advance of Greenways across several counties in Ireland. Westport and County Mayo led the way on this mode of sustainable travel and it’s wonderful that many others have followed. Gordon D’Arcy tells us of his experience on the beautiful and sometimes dramatic Waterford Greenway that has seen a disused railway route turned into one of the most successful walking and cycling trails in Ireland. The industrial heritage left behind in the form of tunnels and viaducts have been given a new lease of life but the roar of engines and clouds of smoke have been replaced with the gentle ting of bike bells and quiet footfalls. Greenways are fantastic places now to enjoy birdsong and the plants that have begun their own rewilding projects along these green corridors. Greenways are symbolic of a new approach to our countryside and how we experience it. As we aspire to a lowcarbon economy and greener society, we now have wonderful new routes to help us get there.
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.
Irish Wildlife Autumn ‘19
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Majestic Tree with green moss root.
Red squirrel. Photo: Bren Whelan Autumn foliage. Turkey tail fungi. Photo: Jerzy Opioła
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Irish Wildlife Summer ‘19
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CONTENTS
Contents 4.
ABOUT US
Discover more about the work of the IWT and how you can get involved.
5. CONSERVATION NEWS Horse chestnuts Mute swan.
Photo: Philomena Brady
Kieran Flood compiles the latest conservation news.
8. IWT NEWS
Recent updates and plans for the future.
11. NOTES FROM THE SOUTH EAST & WEST Exploring the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve nd combatting ecocide.
12. COMPETITION
We’re offering our readers the opportunity to win some fantastic books.
13. EDUCATION
Taking a closer look at the extraordinary nests of the bowerbird, Jenny Quinn wonders if animals have the human-like ability to appreciate and create art.
14. FIADHÚLRA
Síolta i mBuamaí?
16. FEATURE
Gordon D’Arcy takes a trip along the Waterford Greenway.
20. FIELD REPORT
Bob and Rosemary Salisbury have transformed their house near Seskinore Forest into a welcoming home to both family and nature. Lindsay Hodges takes a look inside.
24 WILD SPACES
Collared earthstar fungi.
Photo: Josef F. Stuefer
Martina Caplice explores the wonder that is the coyote, and says the work of organisations like the American Prairie Reserve in the US offer us a chance to better understand this magnificent animal.
26. WILD IDEAS
Jessica Hamilton on the magical appeal of nature’s tiniest plants.
29. OVER TO YOU
A selection of photos and messages sent in by Irish Wildlife Trust members.
30. AUTUMN FOCUS Our native woodlands offer huge value
when it comes to biodiversity, not to mention inspiring wildlife and trees. Richard Nairn takes a walk through Wicklow’s backroads.
32. ON LOCATION
Ballyhoura Mountain Mushrooms on cultivating and foraging delicious mushrooms on the border of counties Limerick, Cork and Tipperary. Irish Wildlife Autumn ‘19
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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. IMAGES THIS PAGE: TOP: Woodpecker at nest hole, credit Richard Nairn, page 30 ABOVE: Cycling along the Waterford Greenway, page 16
HAVE COMMENTS? Magazine queries, general wildlife questions or observations email: editor@iwt.ie Information on campaigning and policies email: irishwildlife@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: Dublin: Barbara, dublinbranch@iwt.ie facebook.com/DublinBranchIrishWildlife Trust, dubliniwt.blogspot.ie Waterford: Denis Cullen, iwtwaterfordbranch@gmail.com, deniscullen@eircom.net, irishwildlifetrust. blogspot.ie Kerry: Ger, iwtkerry@gmail.com www.facebook.com/KerryIWT Galway: Dan, iwtgalway@gmail.com www.facebook.com/IWTgalwaybranch Laois/Offaly: Ricky, iwtlaoisoffaly@gmail.com www.facebook.com/IWTlaoisoffalybranch West Cork: Eoghan Daltun, eoghandaltun@yahoo.com
Irish Wildlife is published quarterly by the IWT.
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
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CONSERVATION NEWS
CONSERVATION
NEWS
The latest national and international news from the conservation world, compiled by Kieran Flood.
IRISH NEWS
CARE FOR OUR HARES You may have seen a number of different headlines concerning hares and rabbits of late. That is because two major factors affecting their health and survival have been announced. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD2 virus) has been found to be in our wild rabbit and hare populations, and as a result of this, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has taken the step of partially suspending the licences it issues to Irish Coursing Clubs to capture hares in areas affected by the disease. Hares are normally solitary creatures and netting of hares for coursing brings large numbers of hares together, increasing the potential to spread this deadly disease. The Irish Wildlife Trust strongly welcomes the move to suspend the hare capture licences. At the time of writing the netting licences are still suspended in areas know to be affected by the disease but are being issued once more in areas not known to be affected. But what is RHD virus? RHD virus was first reported in farmed rabbits in China where it killed 4 million animals within a year of its discovery. It subsequently spread worldwide including to Europe where a new more virulent strain of this virus (RHD2) emerged in France. It causes death within a few days of infection with sick animals having swollen eyelids, partial paralysis and bleeding from the eyes and mouth. This summer it was confirmed in wild rabbits in Co Clare and Co Wicklow and the first case in a wild hare was confirmed in Co Wexford. It has caused up to 70% mortality rates in brown hare populations in some areas of the UK and it is thought to pose a serious threat to Ireland’s wild hare population. The Irish hare, Lepus timidus hibernicus, is considered a sub-species of the mountain hare and it is a protected species under the Wildlife Act.
Irish hare. Photo: Carl Morrow / Alamy
Can the public do anything? This disease can be spread by direct contact, but also in faeces and urine. Limiting the spread of this virus is extremely important for our hares and rabbits, and we can all do our bit by reporting any signs of this disease to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The NPWS has requested that the public, particularly landowners, farmers, vets and the hare coursing community, be on high alert and report any suspected sightings of diseased rabbits and hares as soon as possible to help efforts to monitor and control the disease. The National Parks and Wildlife Service can be contacted on nature.conservation@chg.gov.ie or at 1890 383 000, or you can contact your local Conservation Ranger. For this article, information on the RHD virus was provided by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
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CONSERVATION NEWS
ARE YOU WINTER-READY? BY RICKY WHELAN AUTUMN TASKS TO MAKE YOUR GARDEN WINTER-READY AND WILDLIFE-FRIENDLY With autumn here and winter not far around the corner, it’s a good time to prepare your outdoor space to help wildlife through the lean and cold months ahead. Here are some tasks and tips you might want to consider instead of...
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Planting trees/hedges There is no substitute for a native tree or hedge at your home; our plants and wildlife evolved together over millennia so planting a native tree or hedgerow provides food, shelter and nesting/roosting places for a host of our native wildlife. Check with your supplier that the variety you are purchasing is a native Irish species and of Irish provenance. A native hedge planted with a base of hawthorn and/or blackthorn with guelder rose, hazel, crab apple and other fruiting varieties will provide food for pollinators when flowering in the spring, thick cover for nesting birds in summer and fruits for birds, mammals and insects come the autumn. Bare root hedging is very cost effective and will “take” better than mature plants – it’s best planted like all woody plants in the months that end with “ber”.
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Sowing wildflower seed One of the tasks for early autumn is to set your wildflower seed so you can begin to reap the rewards next summer. Prioritise this task – there is too much detail to go into here, but there is a myriad of advice available online (Pollinators.ie is a good place to start).
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Bird boxes The bird breeding season is now wrapped up for the year, but it’s still a good idea to put the boxes up that you may have not got around to yet. Birds visiting your garden will familiarise themselves with these potential new nesting locations and you will be ahead of the curve come next spring. More importantly, many species will use nest boxes (and other cavities) to roost in over the cold winter nights. Wrens are best known for this behaviour, with numbers of up to 51 wrens recorded huddled together roosting in a box in Dorset, UK during a past BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) survey. Woven roost pouches can
also be hung in suitable locations (thick cover) to accommodate winter roosting wrens. Other species such as house sparrows in small groups and coal, great and blue tits will roost (usually alone) in nest boxes.
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Bat boxes Bats require roosting locations all year round. Large maternity roosts are often found in attics and old buildings during summer, and
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CONSERVATION NEWS
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
EUROPEAN BISON NOW ROAM FREE IN THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS OF BULGARIA BY RICKY WHELAN
winter. Roosts form in basements, ice-houses and other locations with stable temperatures during late-autumn and winter. However, bats will often roost alone or in small numbers in roost boxes (see my last article in the summer edition of this magazine). Providing bat roost boxes provides safe shelter and a roost site for bats that have yet to settle at their winter roost site or have emerged in the early spring when temperatures begin to rise.
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Home in the heap Your compost heap/leaf pile may provide a warm, safe refuge for a variety of species to overwinter; they are often the location chosen by hedgehogs and queen-bees for, example, to hibernate during the cold months. If your compost heap is open, then you need not do anything other than just be careful not to disturb any sleeping hedgehogs if you go digging early next spring. If your compost is in a bin or similar type vessel, you might consider lifting it to set it on a few bricks to give access to would-be tenants.
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Feeding birds In the lean months try to feed the birds – it is vital to their survival, especially when severe weather reduces their ability to forage easily. Make sure you clean your feeders and equipment before setting them out for the season ahead. Always provide water near feeders and clean feeders regularly to stop the spread of avian diseases among your garden visitors (A full list of how to help birds and wildlife during the winter can be found in my article in the Winter ’18 edition of this magazine). It’s not necessary to feed birds until the colder months – I normally start after the first proper frost and continue into April until spring arrives and food is more readily available for birds in the wider countryside.
European bison.
This autumn, the largest land animal in Europe, the European bison, has joined an impressive list of animals, such as wolves and vultures, which now roam free in the mountains of southern Bulgaria. Seven bison were released into the wild in the Rhodope Mountains late this summer, as part of a reintroduction programme run by Rewilding Europe. The Rhodope Mountains are in southern Bulgaria on the border with Greece. This is the first time this majestic species has roamed these hills and forests since the Middle Ages, when they were wiped out by hunting and habitat loss. European bison, otherwise known as wisent, are an important part of the European ecosystems. Unlike their American cousins, European bison browse on a variety of plants inside the forest as well as grazing in open habitats. They play an important role maintaining a mosaic structure in the ecosystem, by creating and maintaining forest openings, glades and meadows. Due to this more diversified structure of natural vegetation new ecological niches are created for other species like insects, birds and small mammals to inhabit. The reintroduction of a large species such as this is a step toward restoring a functioning natural ecosystem. The presence of amazing creatures like wild bison will help the local economy as well as the ecosystem. The presence of the bison in the area will increase the potential for nature-based tourism, and it’s associated employment. So hopefully this and many other schemes like it will prove to be a success for Europe’s people and wildlife alike.
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IWT NEWS
IWTNEWS Activity Update
By Kieran Flood, IWT Coordinator.
People for Bees, Botanic Gardens
flagship event, credit Jacinta Jardine
Biodiversity Week
Galway Woodland Walk Brimstone Butterfly
School planting,
credit Kieran Flood
Autumn is upon us and the short Irish summer has retreated once more. Summer is a great opportunity to get outside and explore our wonderful wildlife, and that is just what we have been doing at the IWT. Here is a brief update on our activities from the summer just passed. In this age where humanity’s severe impact on the planet is unquestionable, working with people is the only way we can save our wildlife. While at the IWT we continuously lobby for the essential change needed from our political leadership, we also greatly value the change that can be brought about by an informed and engaged public. So this summer, the IWT Staff, branches and volunteers were busy engaging thousands of people across Ireland with Irish wildlife and the conservation issues affecting it. Throughout summer we have been progressing our flagship projects “People for Bees” and “Bigger and Better”, our new marine protection project. We have been out and about running wildlife events with our wonderful branch network as well as meeting thousands of people at the Bloom in the Park festival. This National Biodiversity Week our branches and staff ran events highlighting woodland ecology, coastal seaweeds, Irish bats, peatland rehabilitation and marine protected areas. All events were free and open to the public. Biodiversity Week happens every May and is a great opportunity to engage the public with wildlife conservation issues. Although, that said, here at the IWT, it is biodiversity week every week and our branches run great events every month of the year. Notable events this summer were trips run by Dublin, Kerry and Galway branches to the Ireland’s Eye, Blasket and Inis Mor Islands. Our People for Bees project aims to educate the public about what they can do to help save our bees as well as support the All Ireland Pollinator Plan. This summer we ran our usual bee monitoring and habitat creation workshops. These were hosted by a diverse range of groups from Letterkenny IT, to Tidy Towns groups, the Tralee Bee
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Biodiversity Week Kilminchy
Wildlife Enhancement event, credit Brian Gaynor
Highway, community gardens and a community health forum. We also worked with school groups and ran a booked-out flagship bee training event at the National Botanic Gardens where we ran our largest outdoor bee training session to date, taking almost 100 people around the gardens to practise their bee monitoring skills. People are the key to this aspect of the Irish Wildlife Trust work. We would like to thank our branches and other volunteers, the communities that hosted our workshops as well as all the IWT members that came out to our events. It is always great to see familiar faces and meet members in person.
Mailing List To keep up to date with future events, join our digital mailing list to receive a monthly events update. You can join by adding your email to the box on our homepage, www.iwt.ie. If you would like more information on branches, People for Bees or Bigger and Better campaigns, see our website.
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IWT NEWS
Campaign Update By Regina Classen (Bigger and Better MPA Project Officer)
Life underwater The Bigger and Better MPA (marine protected area) campaign, run by the IWT and Coastwatch, has been in full swing this summer. We were able to share our project with the public in Dublin at Bloom and the Rose Festival with lots of interest from young and old. We were also onboard the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group’s vessel, Celtic Mist, and sailed from Dublin to Waterford, stopping in schools along the way to teach children about biodiversity and the importance of marine protection. While some marvelled at the fact that we have such amazing sea life as coral reefs in Ireland, others were even more astounded to learn that these habitats can indeed help regulate our climate.
Irish waters are home to many amazing marine habitats, and many different types of reef. Next to corals, other species that can form reefs include polychaete worms, bivalves like mussels and oysters, or algae including kelp. Other habitat types, including seagrass and maerl (a pink, corallike alga), are also hugely important for biodiversity. There are several commonalities between these very different seafloor ecosystems. Firstly, the species named above are all considered keystone species, or ecosystem engineers, because where they are present in high densities, they form a three-dimensional framework on top of sediments such as sand, gravel or boulders. This framework then allows many other species to move in and
make the habitat their home, thereby increasing biodiversity. What would otherwise have been a barren seafloor is transformed into a sea life haven. Secondly, all of these habitats are very rich in carbon. The shells of mussels and oysters and the skeletons of corals, maerl and even crustaceans all contain calcium carbonate, or chalk, locking in carbon throughout their lifetime. Marine plants such as kelp and seagrass also store carbon by drawing it down from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. The third commonality is the fragile nature of these ecosystems, making them very vulnerable to structural damage from mobile bottom fishing gear. While other stressors exist that may be affecting these
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IWT NEWS
Are you a regular diver or snorkeller? You might be able to help us. Harmful fishing practices such as bottom trawling can cause damage to seafloor ecosystems. Destruction of certain habitats or harm caused to certain species inside Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) is illegal under EU law. If you come across any damage that you think is worth reporting, please contact us at iwt.marineprotection@gmail.com You can also follow our campaign on Twitter @BiggerBetterMPA
ecosystems, fishing is one that is very easily avoided by proper spatial management of Natura 2000 sites. Ireland’s first marine spatial plan is currently under production, and a draft is expected for public consultation this autumn. We hope that the plan will address the impact of fishing pressure on marine ecosystems and adopt key policies that prioritise the health of the environment when planning new developments. We have highlighted the need for proper MPA management in our consultation submission on the Marine Planning Policy Statement in August, available to download on the IWT website. The Bigger and Better campaign is about appealing to the Irish government to address the issues our oceans face. An oyster reef is a shelter for many species as well as an important carbon sink when alive and
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healthy. It is not just revenue waiting to be exploited. Equally, what some would observe as a plain and boring mud flat is actually home to a wide array of burrowing invertebrates – the preferred food of many internationally important bird species and not just an empty area waiting to be filled with aquaculture trestles. In the jargon of the government’s Our Ocean Wealth, the value of biodiversity often gets lost. The NPWS has just published its third report on the Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland. This report has to be submitted to the EU every six years in order to monitor the transition to overall Good Environmental Status. It may come as no surprise that, given the small coverage of MPAs (only 2% of the Irish marine region, compared to 29% in the UK and 45% in Germany) and the lack of
management of activities inside, marine habitats are showing an overall declining trend. Despite nature laws in place, the environment is degrading with only 2% of habitats showing an improving trend compared to 2013 and with 85% of habitats in unfavourable or bad condition. We understand the importance of healthy marine ecosystems for human kind better than ever before. There is still a lot we do not know, but nobody will argue the fact that we very much depend on the seas to keep providing our dinner, sequester our excess carbon, absorb the increase in temperature and produce 50% of the oxygen we breathe. It should be a no-brainer to provide adequate funding for the designation of MPAs, draw up site-specific conservation measures and hire sufficient staff to monitor the protected sites and enforce the law.
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NOTES
Notes From... SOUTHEAST
Little egret feeding in the pools
below the observation tower
Birds of a feather… Winter on the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
T
he Wexford Wildfowl Reserve is one of the most important sites in Europe for the Greenland white-fronted goose. This increasingly scarce goose species has been found on the reserve since 1910 and from then on, numbers began to rise. The reserve is also a key site for wintering species, such as whooper swan, brent geese, black-tailed godwit, and golden plover. On your average visit to the reserve in winter, you will see species which include Eurasian wigeon, teal, snipe, little egret and, if you’re lucky, hen harrier while they hunt the open fields and reedbeds. The National Parks and Wildlife Service and BirdWatch Ireland make sure the geese and swans have fodder beet to graze on in late winter. When the birds first arrive, they feed mainly on the managed grassland. Species of geese that are found regularly on the reserve during the winter months include Greenland white-fronted, lightbellied brent, barnacle, and small numbers of pink-footed. When visiting the reserve, there are four bird hides. One is the Pat Walsh, which is the first viewing point you will come upon. This hide views an open channel, which is a great site for wintering goldeneye, tufted duck and water rail. The Pat Walsh channel is well known for rare species, including ringnecked duck, common crane and long-billed dowitcher. The second hide provides nice views out over Wexford harbour, giving the opportunity to see species such as the red-breasted merganser, great crested grebe and great northern divers. Some of the rarer species that have been recorded include red-necked grebe, Slavonian (found regularly each winter in the harbour), black-necked grebe and black-throated diver. The observation tower offers great views from a height over the reserve. This hide is the best for viewing the thousands of wintering geese and swans. Views into the harbour are also excellent from here. This is the best site on the reserve to see the rare bewick’s swan, mainly in January and February, when the beet field below the observation tower is ready for the birds to feed on. The Bewick’s swan is a vagrant from Siberia. Up to around 20 birds now winter on the reserve most years. This number has decreased by a staggering percentage over the years, but in recent years, the reserve used to hold anything up to 80 to 100 Bewick’s swans. The brent goose is a species that also arrives in its hundreds to the reserve, using the large areas of open grassland to feed on. This small goose species is a migrant from Arctic Greenland and Canada each winter. While scanning through the flocks from the observation tower, it is worth keeping your eyes peeled for the scarcer dark-bellied brent, which is a vagrant from Arctic Siberia. And if you are really lucky scanning the flocks, you may come across the North American brent goose, known as the black brant.
SOUTHWEST
CAN WE COMBAT ECOCIDE?
BY JULIE HARDING
We throw away our food shopping, and dump fastfashion clothes. We power homes with gas and oil, but we all already know. Sustainability’s the ticket. Finally it’s cool and quite trendy to care about the planet and be “environmentally friendly”. We need green space to walk, clean air to breathe for health and happiness. Our GGEs are off the charts – too many cows’ belches and farts! We must reduce this mess. Intensive farming has got to go, the BRIDE project’s reviving lost hedgerows. Farmers want to do what’s right to take care of the land. They’ll use the Internet of things. Grow grass instead, be grand. The sea will rise by two whole feet in the next eightyone years. All hands on deck or we’re overboard, these aren’t imaginary fears. Don’t put food waste in the rubbish bin, rethink your transport type. Be creative, grow some vegetables, eat less meat, believe the hype. The whole world’s man-made problem must be solved by feminists. So says my idol Mary Robinson. After all, the aim is to coexist. From Dingle to Kinsale you’ll find. Innovative hubs and anti-plastic towns, Tipperary’s eco-village, as amazing as it sounds. Communities are rising up to take some control back. Politicians don’t work fast enough – everyone must lead the pack!
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Competition We’re offering Irish Wildlife readers the chance to win one of two fantastic books! Field of Dreams, How we transformed a rural desert into a thriving wildlife garden by Bob Salisbury Having moved back to Tyrone, Bob Salisbury and his wife Rosemary set about building their new home on a 17-acre site. “It was when we first spent time on the land we now owned that Rosemary asked whether I noticed anything odd. Eventually I gave up. ‘There is no birdsong’, she said”. In terms of wildlife, the land was barren. This is the inspiring story of how the Salisburys, both enthusiastic gardeners, transformed an unloved rural wasteland into a thriving, renowned wildlife garden, home to hares, owls, hawks, otters, woodcock, bats and many other species that hadn’t been seen for years.
Okani and the Crocodile Queendom illustrations by Kensika Monshengwo and Colette Mpia Akomuni Based on an old African folk tale, this book tells the story of Okani, a little girl who lost her girlfriend’s ring in the river. Forced to go and fetch the ring at the bottom of the river, she finds herself trapped in the crocodile queendom.
To be in with a chance to win one of the above books, just answer the following question: What is the name of the first Bird Hide you come across in the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve? Please send your answer along with your name and address as well as the title of your preferred book to editor@iwt.ie by the 15th January 2020.
Summer ’19 winners: In our summer issue, we gave our readers the chance to win copies of Naturama by Michael Fewer with illustrations by Melissa Doran and See the Wood from the Trees by Marion McGarry & Dermot O’Donovan.
The question asked was: Where in Kerry were the wildflowers photographed by Jessica Hamilton? The answer was: Ballyheigue, Co Kerry The winners were: Ben O’Neill, Waterford City and Hans Kottelaar, Netherlands (Naturama); Enda Hayes, Co Tipperary and Sandra Coleman, Cork City (See the Wood from the Trees).
Congratulations and many thanks to all who entered!
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EDUCATION
5 The River Liffey in Lucan House Demesne” by Thomas Roberts, from Shaping Ireland at the National Gallery of Ireland
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n advertisement for an exhibition caught my eye recently. The description didn’t sound particularly captivating. I was actually intrigued by the banality of the topic – it was about birds’ nests. Birds’ nests are everywhere, but I realised I didn’t know a huge amount about these little structures. How exactly are they made? Do all birds build new ones every year? Does their purpose vary? Is it the male or female who takes the lead with construction? I wandered in. Artist Andy Holden and his ornithologist father Peter combine their knowledge and the objects they’ve collected over a number of years to form the exhibition entitled Natural Selection. The fact that Andy is an artist and Peter an ornithologist means that the exhibition has a refreshing and nuanced feel; evidently, they appreciate and have learned from each other’s perspectives. A three-screen video installation featuring Andy and Peter plays a central role in the exhibition. They talk about different types of nests, nest materials and nest sites. From how they speak, it’s clear that Peter’s approach stems from Darwin’s theory of evolution and “natural selection”, whereas Andy is consumed by the idea that nest building is very much a creative act. What is most striking, however, and what allows the exhibition to progress in a very interesting manner, is their shared intrigue at the creativity and skill of a wide variety of birds. Both are captivated by the bowerbird’s creation. One need only glance at the images that crop up when “bowerbird nest” is typed into Google to see why. Male bowerbirds, found in the forests of New Guinea and Australia, create impressively elaborate structures complete with colourful decorative objects in order to attract a mate. They seem to have a penchant for blue objects and are very particular about where they place each item. What is implied is that these birds have a genuine concept of beauty that stretches beyond functionality/scientific principles.
Natural born
artists? Taking a closer look at the extraordinary nests of the bowerbird, Jenny Quinn wonders if animals have the human-like ability to appreciate and create art. Although I learned a few general things about nests from the exhibition, I did come away with a new question: Can animals truly appreciate and create art? Art is more often than not considered to be unique to the human realm, but if we take a close look at nature, we might find that we humans aren’t the only ones who appreciate true creative expression. We should take a leaf out of Andy and Peter’s book when attempting to investigate this. In other words, we shouldn’t pit science against art, rather we should examine the interesting relationship between the two.
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FIADHÚLRA
Síolta i mBuamaí? A
gus mé ag siúl síos mo bhóithrín féin an lá cheana in éineacht le comharsan liom, céard a chonaic mé ag fás ar thaobh an bhóthair ach plandaí breátha borráiste goirm, in áit nach mbídís ag fás cheana riamh. Rinne mé gáire beag liom féin. Caithfidh sé nach raibh mé ag cur m’am amú go huile is go hiomlán le cúpla bliain anuas, agus go bhfuil ag éirí liom de réir a chéile plandaí maithe fiúntacha a chur ar ais sa timpeallacht. Is beachaire mé a bhfuil cónaí orm in oirthear na tíre. Tuairim agus leath is leath feirmeacha stoic agus curadóireachta atá anseo i mo thimpeall. Ó thaobh an dúlra de, tá an ceantar seo nach mór scriosta anois. Ar éigean anois a d’fheicfeá gráinneog, frog, giorria, féileacán daite, féileacán oíche, cearc uisce ná go leor leor eile nach iad. Tá éanachaí gann agus an-ghann anois, go mór mór iad siúd atá ag brath ar fheithidí. Ní leanann siad an céachta a thuilleadh, cheal péiste sa talamh. Tá feithidí gann de bharr an nimh atá seasta á cur ar na páirceanna curadóireachta. Chomh maith leis sin, tá easpa mhór bláthanna sna móinéir de bharr an oiread nítrigine agus sciodair atá á scaipeadh orthu. Níl fanta anois ach na fáltaí agus an stráice caol talún lena dtaobh, agus cuid acu sin iad féin i ndroch chaoi. Shocraigh mé iarracht a dhéanamh bláthanna fiúntacha dúchasacha a chur ar ais sa timpeallacht ach é a dhéanamh i ngan fhios. Chonaic mé go leor ar Google faoi na
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Buamadóirí Síl i dtiortha eile agus bhain mé triail as anuraidh den chéad uair. Tá sé éasca go maith na buamaí seo a dhéanamh. Meascán de shíolta, cré photaireachta, créafóg nó múirín agus uisce atá iontu. Is féidir iad ar fad a mheascadh le chéile agus liathróidí beaga ar nós mirlíní a dhéanamh astu. Fág ansin sa teach gloine iad go mbeidh siad leath triomaithe. Is féidir iad a chaitheamh amach as do phóca nó, níos fearr fós, iad a chaitheamh i bhfad uait le crann tabhaill. D’fhoghlaim mé go leor le dhá bhliain anuas, mar leis an fhírinne a rá, níor éirigh go rómhaith liom ag an tús. A laghad cré photaireachta a úsáidfear, is é is fearr, mar má bhíonn na liathróidí róchrua, ní leáfaidh an bháisteach iad agus fanfaidh siad ina gclocha ar an talamh. B’fhearr iad a chaitheamh nuair atá siad fós beagán fliuch nóroimh nó i ndiaidh báisteach throm. B’fhearr iad a chaitheamh le linn an gheimhridh nó go luath san earrach chun an seans is fearr a thabhairt dóibh. Ní éireoidh leo ar fad ach, de réir a chéile agus má chaitear ag bun na bhfálta iad, beidh toradh ar do chuid oibre ar ball. Ach an bhfuil sé ceart é seo a dhéanamh? Sé freagra na ceiste ná nach bhfuil sé ceart ná cóir mura bhfuil tú an-chúramach go deo maidir leis na síolta a roghnaíonn tú. D’fhéadfá dochar a dhéanamh. Tá go leor pacáistí ‘síolta fáinne’ ar díol sna siopaí le cúpla bliain anuas, don mhóinéir, don talamh curadóireachta, don choill, do bheacha, d’éanacha agus d’fhéileacáin. Ach fainic, ní bhíonn liosta na mbláthanna ar go leor de na pacáistí seo agus scaití bíonn sé scríofa orthu nach gá gurb iad
na síolta céanna atá istigh iontu is atá ar an bpictiúr. Chuir mise go leor acu sin i mo ghairdín féin agus in ainneoin chomh hálainn is atá siad, ní aithním go leor acu ar chor ar bith. Tá siad togha uilig do na feithidí i mo ghairdín ceart go leor ach ní chreidim go mbeadh sé ceart ná cóir iad a scaipeadh ar thalamh na gcomharsan. Mar shampla, ní bheifeá ag iarraidh an lus mór a chur ag fás sna móinéirí. Bígí an-cúramach. Tá cúpla dream in Éirinn anois atá ag díol síolta fiáine atá feiliúnach don tír seo agus b’fhearr liomsa cloí leis na síolta sin. Tá na cinn eile ceart go leor don ghairdín. Níos fearr fós, roghnaigh planda amháin ag an am, planda atá in easnamh sa timpeallacht agus déan iarracht é sin a chur ag fás, Lus na Tríonóide, mar shampla. Tá rún agam buamaí a dhéanamh as síolta crann fia-úll i mbliana, crann eile atá thar a bheith gann sa dúiche seo anois. Má chaithim na buamaí sa bhFómhar, beidh siad sioctha go maith i rith an gheimhridh agus cá bhfios ach go bhfásfaidh roinnt acu san earrach, neachtar d’fheithidí agus úllaí d’éanachaí amach anseo. Smaoinigh freisin go bhfuil plandaí eile ann atá riachtanach d’fheithidí áirithe, ar nós saileacha do na beacha agus beitheanna do na féileacáin oíche agus is féidir iad sin a chur sna fálta le gearrthóga, gan aon dochar a dhéanamh ar chor ar bith. Ar deireadh thiar thall, níl de dhíth ach go mbeidh roinnt de na plandaí seo slán sa timpeallacht agus nuair a thiocfas an t-athrú feirmeoireachta amach anseo, rud a thiocfaidh gan amhras, beidh na plandaí ann chun scaipeadh arís sa dúlra mar a bhí. Buamáil gan dochar!
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FEATURE
Gordon D’Arcy takes a trip along the Waterford Greenway to discover a place where adventureseekers, wildlife and nature can harmoniously share space.
Barn owl in flight, credit Mike Brown
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FEATURE
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chieving some sort of balance in the countryside is an existential challenge for decision-makers. Urban expansion is constantly threatening to overwhelm precious wild areas. Agricultural intensification demands more and more of our marginal land, harbours of biodiversity. The car culture transforms our infrastructure at the expense of the countryside’s quiet corners. Paradoxically, with increasing emphasis on healthy activity in the open air, undisturbed natural habitats frequently give way to recreational activity. Abandoned commonages, woodland copses, coastal dune-systems, accessible islets and overgrown riverbanks come under increasing pressure from a growing population motivated by outdoor pursuits. How refreshing, therefore, to come across an example where balance has undoubtedly been achieved. The 46km abandoned rail line extending from Waterford to Dungarvan is both recreationally satisfying for walkers and cyclists and ecologically rich. It is also visually pleasing, as it tracks alongside the broad River Suir, past reed bed and fen, through mature woodland scrub and pasture to its terminus at the sleepy seaside town of Dungarvan. The two-hour cycle passes through interesting geological interfaces. Metamorphic schists of Palaeozoic volcanic origin dominate. But there is also Old Red Sandstone, and even some Carboniferous limestone, at the Dungarvan end. The mainly acidic rocks are noticeable at the several deep defiles through which the track runs. As a sheltered corridor, largely unmodified and unaffected by pollution or chemical sprays, the Greenway is a natural paradise. The cycle-path is flanked on either side by swathes of wildflowers; banks of knee-high oxeye daisies extend for a hundred metres in places; golden hawkweed, dandelion and buttercups sit colourfully against the grey of the gravel while countless grasses – poas, fescues, bents – sway in the breeze, providing a subtle backdrop to the floral display. Occasional anomalies – metre-high yellow-
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FEATURE
flowered mullein, scarlet poppies, pink and white dog-rose and various orchids punctuate the array. A steep, rock-sided cut is festooned with spikes of navelwort and ferns of several species. In my leisurely transit, I could identify more than 30 plant species without getting off my bike. In the sun-flooded windless stretches, pollinating insects engage in their focused business. Wasp-like hoverflies, bumble bees, day-flying moths and butterflies dance in the dappled light. As I pass, small, greenveined and wood whites exit from bramble-flowers like airborne petals, while meadow browns and speckled woods flutter near the leafy overhangs. At one point, a migrant painted lady springs up from the gravel followed closely by a banded agrion damselfly and a red and black cinnabar moth. It is easy to see why Greenway cycling is so popular. There can be few more liberating activities. Freewheeling along, away from vehicular threat or open road pollution,
directly engaged with the sights and sounds of abundant wildlife, is a treat indeed. The Greenway is especially accommodating to birdsong. The verdant corridor possesses ideal acoustics, favouring both singer and listener. Robins, wrens, thrushes, blackbirds, chaffinches, goldfinches, goldcrests and wood pigeons are just some of the serenading birds. Four warbler species – willow warbler, chiff-chaff, blackcap, and sedge warbler – conduct their territorial declarations from their respective habitats. A fifth – a reed warbler – brought me to a halt at a small fen close by the track. This bird, a relative newcomer (a climate-change candidate), is now nesting in a number of localities in the south-west of Ireland. Hearing its distinctive song is one thing; catching sight of it amid dense reed cover is quite another. The birds weren’t limited to songsters either. Grey herons, pigeons and various crows flew up and out before the advancing bike, and a pair of buzzards soared majestically in wide circles high overhead.
“The Greenway is especially accommodating to birdsong. The verdant corridor possesses ideal acoustics, favouring both singer and listener. Robins, wrens, thrushes, blackbirds, chaffinches, goldfinches, goldcrests and wood pigeons are just some of the serenading birds.” 18
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FEATURE
“Judicious planting of hazel and birch to buffer the roar of motorway traffic in one or two places and signs referring to the invasive Japanese knotweed caught the eye as did a community wildflower meadow project on the approaches to Dungarvan.”
Understandably, mammals (other than occasional rabbits) kept their heads down. There is, however, one notable mammal residing adjacent to the Greenway. The Bilberry goat, a feral beast with a distinguished ancient pedigree, is found on rocky ground at the Waterford end. This stocky breed with its dense, shaggy-pile coat, gentle face and (often enormous) scimitar horns is nowadays regarded as an ancient “throwback”, thus significantly worthy of conservation. With the IWT involved in a campaign to protect the goats and their habitat from a proposed housing development, the future of the herd is more secure than before. Though I was not lucky enough to see the goats on the day, it is reassuring to know that they still survive. There are other signs of active conservation too. Judicious planting of hazel and birch to buffer the roar of motorway traffic in one or two places and signs referring to the invasive Japanese knotweed caught the eye as did a community wildflower meadow project on the approaches to Dungarvan. For me, one particular feature on the Greenway exemplified the recreation/ conservation partnership: the “Pigeon Loft”, a tastefully restored coach-house café (an historic workhouse) located conveniently halfway along the route. Here, nesting swallows and swifts dash “freewheeling” around the rooftops, while tired cyclists relax before continuing on their Greenway migration.
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w.”
FIELD REPORT
Nurturing Nature
Field of Dreams Bob and Rosemary Salisbury have transformed their house near Seskinore Forest into a welcoming home to both family and nature. Lindsay Hodges takes a look inside.
N
ature is the ultimate warrior, a seasoned survivor who takes everything we throw at her yet still comes back for more. She keeps going despite the relentless eradication of hedgerows, destruction of natural habitats, drowning of oceans in plastic and, at times, the complete failure of environmental consideration in central and local government policy. Nature has every right to feel completely let down. Yet she does not desert us, still raising defiant fingers of foxgloves on even the most recently razed banksides and trying her best to sustain her precious offspring. Sometimes, however, we truly push Nature to her limits, leaving the land in such a sorry state that only active human assistance can revive and restore it enough to make a comeback. This is demonstrated abundantly in the project taken forward over the last 15 years by Bob and Rosemary Salisbury. Both renowned educationalists who have already made significant contributions to making life better for many, the Salisburys have taken the concept of leaving a legacy to a different level altogether since their decision to move back to Rosemary’s native County Tyrone in 2003. It was meant to be a 20
temporary move, but that’s not what fate had in store. They are now into their 16th year at their house near Seskinore Forest, transformed into both a family home and a genuine space for nature. They turned the bleakest five acres into a balanced beauty of a garden, woodland, herb and vegetable patch, orchard and ponds. From nothing, the land now hosts 64 bird species, 12 mammal species and a parade of bees, butterflies, moths and insects. To say it is a complete transformation simply couldn’t do it justice. When Christine Cassidy and I visited, Bob was jubilant with the appearance of a 65th bird species, a family of great spotted woodpeckers. The story of their labour of love for the landscape is vividly described in Bob’s engaging and honest book, Field of Dreams, published by The Blackstaff Press in 2018. While fód in Irish refers to turf, or a sod, the name of their new home simply became a shortened version of the Field of Dreams, since Bob and Rosemary were forever working somewhere to turn the land around. Through an area of wild wood that opens out into a meadow, or beside crafted ponds that blend perfectly into a glade of once skip-rescued saplings, the air is alive with birdsong. It was the absence of any sound that Rosemary first noticed when they moved to Tyrone, remembering from
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FIELD REPORT
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her childhood how the area was once alive with the calls of skylarks, curlews, lapwing and a dazzle of songbirds. She now found it a “rural desert” and they set about changing the fortunes of the land into a haven for wildlife of all shapes and sizes. Bob told us, “Neither of us were experts in biodiversity; we knew nothing of garden design, had little spare cash, but we had a dream. We played it by ear and started planting trees under our own steam – over 1,000 whips of alder, oak, maple, ash, hazel and pine. We excavated three large ponds, thickened up existing hedgerows to form small woods, and sowed a wildflower meadow. Then we waited with bated breath.” The book describes the setbacks, hard work, persistence and vision, charting the land’s resurrection from zero to hero. There are many examples to have you smiling, such as Bob returning bags of dumped rubbish back to startled but shamed owners, or inadvertently covered in slurry when trying to take wildlife photographs. The book also charts Bob’s own change in approach about rural pastimes, describing himself now as a convert and advocate for all nature, seeking to influence and persuade through experience and example. Local residents are fully on board with the aim of reintroducing lost species to the area by sympathetic planting and conservation going hand in hand with farm management. In November 2018, the project won the prestigious Sustainable Ireland award for the best environmental initiative. Not resting on their laurels, Bob and Rosemary are now working in partnership with The Woodland Trust and their neighbours to establish a sizeable expanse of mixed, native woodland in the area. They see their experiences as a case study of what can be achieved with the doggedness, will and vision to make a dream come true and are willing to share all they have learned. They can be reached through The Blackstaff Press and are happy to pass on any advice and encouragement to anyone wishing to establish projects of their own. When we were leaving, we remembered the classic line from the 1989 baseball film Field of Dreams: “If you build it, they will come” and mentioned it to Bob. “That’s it exactly,” he said, smiling. “It really is possible.” 22
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WILD SPACES
With the success of many re-wilding projects taking place across Europe, talk has turned to the notion of reintroducing our own former top predator, the Grey Wolf. In this article Martina Caplice gives us a unique insight into another predatory canid, the American Coyote.
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Adult coyote strolling on the same path a mother and five pups were
also spotted, perhaps belonging to the same pack, credit Martina Caplice
A Dog’s Life T
he prairie song dog Canis latrans, the coyote, can be heard singing to the endless sky anytime from dusk until dawn throughout North America. The coyote belongs to the family Canidae, the dog family, along with 36 other species such as the domestic dog, wolf, fox, jackal, dingo and dhole. Coyotes have 11 different vocal noises they use to communicate, as well as many different olfactory (odour) and visual signals (such as facial expressions, tail position, postures and gaits). The scientific name Canis latrans translates to mean “barking or roaring dog”, and they are known to be the most vocal of the North American mammals. Along with many predators, these wild singers have been persecuted throughout the years. In order to make brutal methods of controlling them acceptable, propaganda instilling hatred and fear about these little song dogs was widely spread. Coyotes mainly feed on small rodents, but are opportunistic scavengers with a diet that varies greatly from plants and animals to the odd discarded boot. They have been seen to eat fish and will climb obstacles to obtain food. It is no wonder, then, that just like our native red fox, the coyote
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WILD SPACES
Four of five coyote pups that showed up following their mother
on one of the APR Wild Sky ranches, credit Martina Caplice
A Beautiful young adult coyote out for a midday stroll in the sun, credit Martina Caplice
tends to thrive in the urban landscape. They rarely group hunt for larger prey such as deer or livestock, but receive a lot of blame for killing high numbers of both. The coyote is an amazing creature, extremely adaptable, and despite being intensively controlled for more than two centuries, they have expanded into habitats far beyond their native range of open plains and grasslands. This is largely due to the intense control of apex predators such as wolves, where usually coyote numbers would be kept in check by competition; although, the fact that, when stressed, coyotes tend to reproduce at higher rates also contributes. Although they are true survivalists and have shown their ability to thrive in this human-dominated world, they still must run with one eye looking over their shoulders. Luckily for the coyote, the value of this and other predators is beginning to be recognised and in some places, the coyote can breathe a sigh of relief and even earn its bed and board by allowing a fleeting moment in its life to be captured. One such place is the American Prairie Reserve (APR), which is working towards creating the largest nature reserve in the continental United States. The reserve is creating wildlife corridors along which animals can migrate through the project area, creating opportunities for ranchers to gain financially from the wildlife on their ranches and the changing mindsets of the people working the land to view wildlife as assets. On the APR, the coyote is recognised for its role in the ecosystem and how it helps to regulate species at different trophic levels. The APR collected wildlife data from Bushnell camera traps set up on ranches taking part in their Wild Sky programme. This programme offers ranchers incentives for managing their ranches with wildlife-
A curious coyote
pup up close and personal with the Bushnell camera trap, credit Martina Caplice
friendly practices, as well as being carnivore compatible. The camera traps allow for the coyotes to be monitored as well as capturing moments in the life of the coyote – moments of puppy curiosity, family outings, night time excursions or strolls in the sun. The APR has a list of animals of importance, which includes bears, mountain lions, wolves, and big horn sheep. If any of the animals of importance are photographed, the ranchers receive benefits for having these animals present on their ranch. It is wonderful to see these moments captured by the camera traps, to observe the wild as it should be, uninterrupted, and also to know that it is benefiting all parties involved, including the coyote, which has no idea it is even being captured. Being granted a snapshot into the world of the wild coyote is something truly magical. When one sees a coyote in person, it is often just a blur of red-silver that bolts away to disappear into sagebrush, or sometimes all we are privy to is the lone howling of a coyote announcing its presence to the night. It is truly heart-warming to see that in parts of the world, the propaganda and fear spread about predators is starting to subside, and we are beginning to live in harmony with these superb creatures again. Predators are an integral part of a balanced ecosystem. The acceptance of coyotes will hopefully lay the foundations for the acceptance of higher up predators such as bears, mountain lions and wolves. Perhaps once we learn more about truly coexisting with the coyote and other predators, we will have a greater understanding of our place in the wild.
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WILD IDEAS
PALE BUTTERWORT (Pinguicula lusitanica) FAMILY:
Lentibulariaceae (butterworts)
This little beauty is a species that occurs on wet heaths and bogs. Although I see this species fairly frequently, it’s always a treat to find. In Ireland, we have three species of butterwort – pale, common and large-flowered (the latter is very much a Kerry/ Cork speciality). Like other butterworts, this species is a carnivorous plant whose leaves secrete a sticky gluelike substance that traps small flies and insects, which are then digested by the plant. The leaves of all three species occur as a basal rosette; in the pale butterwort, the leaves are a dark olive/brown green that blend in easily to its damp surroundings – so often, it’s the flower you notice first. The leaves of the common and largeflowered are bright green and are much more conspicuous.
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Miniature Marvels
Jessica Hamilton on the magical appeal of nature’s tiniest plants.
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WILD IDEAS
I
’m based in County Kerry, which is a pretty spectacular spot, and I feel very lucky to call this beautiful county my home. I’m an avid photographer of wildlife (mainly plants and insects), and nothing pleases me more than looking back over the summer’s images on a dark autumn/winter evening. Not only is it incredibly nostalgic, but it also whets the appetite for the next season – new species I want to target and improved photos I wish to take. I’ve been lucky enough to see many fantastic plants, ranging from big showy orchids that beg you to photograph them, to some of the rarer protected species. However, some of the most exciting plants for me are the tiniest ones – the species that have you crawling around on the ground to fully appreciate their tiny scale, while at the same time being ever thankful for the invention of waterproof trousers. Although these plants are indeed small, they’re very distinctive and if you’re in a suitable habitat, they become easier to spot. Here’s a selection of some of the smaller plants I’ve been lucky enough to photograph and see over the last number of years. For some of these species, they were pointed out to me by fellow botanists – this is why field meetings are great, the hands-on experience and ID tips you get simply can’t be experienced from a book or key.
Lesser skullcap
(Scutellaria minor)
LESSER SKULLCAP (Scutellaria minor)
FAMILY: Lamiaceae (mint)
This plant is not as infrequently seen, nor as diminutive, but it’s still not a plant you see every day and could be easily missed. Lesser skullcap is a hairless plant of damp ground in acidic heath/ grassland habitats. The flower, although quite small, really merits getting to eye level with the species and viewing the detail through a hand lens.
Lesser twayblade
(Neottia cordata)
LESSER TWAYBLADE (Neottia cordata) FAMILY: Orchidaceae (orchids) We have two species of twayblade in Ireland – common and lesser. The lesser twayblade, as the name suggests, is much smaller than the common and is, in fact, Ireland’s smallest species of orchid (6-20cm in height). It’s a plant that is easily overlooked and possibly under-recorded due to its small size and is often found growing amongst thickets of heather, and has an uncanny knack for blending in with the ground vegetation which it grows on. Irish Wildlife Autumn ‘19
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WILD IDEAS
Allseed
(Radiola linoides)
ALLSEED (Radiola linoides) FAMILY: Linaceae (flax)
Predominantly a western species in Ireland, this little plant is a firm favourite of mine, and I get to see it fairly often, primarily on coastal heathy habitats, where the surrounding vegetation is stunted by grazing or the exposed nature of coastal habitats. It has quite diminutive white flowers that are not easily picked out amongst the surrounding vegetation and is much easier to see later in the year, when the plant is in seed (when, like its name suggests, it looks like it is “all seed”). Not only is this a fantastic species to meet, it’s also assessed as Near Threatened on the Irish Red List of vascular plants (NPWS Red List No 10).
Chaffweed
(Centunculus minimus)
CHAFFWEED (Centunculus minimus) FAMILY: Primulaceae (primrose)
This species is one of Europe’s smallest flowering plants and is very miniscule indeed (the pencil pictured illustrates the scale). It is often found growing alongside allseed, but is a little bit harder to spot, although the leaves have a distinctive dark line on the underside, and it is easier to spot when in seed. Due to its small size, it’s a poor competitor and tends to appear where disturbance has occurred on damp trackways in heathy habitats – often coastal, like allseed. FAIRY FLAX (Linum catharticum) FAMILY: Linaceae (Flax)
This little species can be found much more abundantly in comparison to the aforementioned, but again can be easily overlooked if you’re not aware of it. The white flowers are quite small, around 4-5mm across, and have dainty little veins running along the petals. I most commonly see fairy flax growing in more calcareous habitats (predominantly dunes), but also on heath. This is a really beautiful little flower that deserves further inspection with a hand lens.
Fairy flax
(Linum catharticum)
If you would like to get involved in botany in Kerry, get in touch. Visit bsbi.org/local-botany. Email: jhbsbikerry@gmail.com. Social media: Facebook @BSBIKerry Twitter: @Jessica_Ham92.
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MEMBERS’ LETTERS
OVER TO YOU Contact: editor@iwt.ie
Our members have been busy exploring and making exciting discoveries this season. We love to hear from you, so remember to keep in touch with all your stories, photos and questions from your adventures!
We noticed there are far fewer bumblebees in the garden at the moment. Where do all the bees go during winter? Susan from Naas, Co Kildare
Good observation Susan. We have three types of bee in Ireland – honeybees, bumblebees and solitary bees. Honeybee colonies drop in numbers but the colony survives the winter huddled in the hive. Solitary bee adults die off after they have laid their eggs in cavities and tunnels. Most fascinating of all, bumblebee queens actually hibernate! They take a leaf out of the bear’s book, and sleep the winter away to emerge in spring in search of dandelions to feed on.
FACEBOOK PHOTO OF THE MONTH
I spotted this fairy ring of mushrooms. What causes them? Noel from Blessington, Co Wicklow Mushrooms are actually just the fruiting body of these important organisms. Under the ground is the rest of it, the mycelium. These are the thread-like structures that play an important role breaking down dead leaves and other material in the soil and transporting nutrients around. When mycelium are growing in flat areas like a field, they can grow out evenly from the centre in a circle. When they put up their fruiting bodies, ie the mushrooms, they pop up in a ring shape.
The winner of our September Photo of the Month competition was Feargal Quinn with this beautiful capture of the red squirrel.
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 editor@iwt.ie Irish Wildlife Autumn ‘19
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AUTUMN FOCUS
A Walk
Woods in the
Our native woodlands offer huge value when it comes to biodiversity, not to mention inspiring wildlife and trees. Richard Nairn takes a walk through Wicklow’s backroads.
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entered the woodland just after dawn to the sound of a great spotted woodpecker drumming high above in the alder trees. For weeks I had been listening to this iconic sound, but had not managed to see any of these recent colonists to Ireland. Then, suddenly, there was a woodpecker in the tree above my head giving a loud “pik-pik-pik” alarm call. I knew that I must be near the nest, so I hid beneath some foliage and waited. Then the adult bird, in striking black, white and red plumage, landed on a nearby tree with a beak-load of big white grubs, which it promptly delivered to a chick poking its head out of the nest hole. This is a fragment of old native woodland in a river valley that forms one boundary of our family farm in east Wicklow. Because the ground is permanently wet, the tree canopy is dominated by alder but there is plenty of willow, ash, holly, birch, hazel and oak on the drier slopes. As well as regular winter flooding when the river overflows its banks, the ground is also kept damp by the trickling streams that come from groundwater springs on the slopes above.
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Woodpecker at nest nole, credit Richard Nairn
Riparian (or riverside) woodland has huge benefits for biodiversity both on the land and in the water. The roots of the trees intercept nutrients draining off agricultural land in the catchment, trapping these in the woodland soil. Studies in the USA have found that streamside forests are very effective at removing excess nutrients and sediment from surface runoff and shallow groundwater with up to 90% reductions in nitrate concentrations measured in rivers
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AUTUMN FOCUS
Wicklow riparian woodland, credit Richard Nairn
flowing through woodland in Illinois. Riparian woods can also ameliorate the effects of many pesticides and provide food for aquatic creatures maintaining high biological productivity and diversity in rivers and streams that pass through them. I knew that there were trout in our river, but imagine my surprise when a sensor camera that I was using to film badgers showed the distinctive outline of an otter emerging from the water. These secretive mammals are much more likely to move along a watercourse in search of aquatic prey under cover of trees. I persuaded a friend who is a freshwater biologist to sample the river water, and among the more common species she found two mayflies and two stoneflies, all indicators of the cleanest water conditions. Other naturalists have helped by investigating this small woodland in the last few years, and the species list now includes 78 vascular plants, including trees and ferns, 60 mosses and liverworts, 34 fungi, 77 moths and butterflies, 11 molluscs, and 21 breeding birds, including the woodpeckers. This is probably just scraping the surface of an exceptionally rich habitat. Two years ago, this site joined the growing Native Woodland Scheme and so qualified for grant aid from the Forest Service to carry out essential conservation work. We felled a stand of non-native sycamore trees to remove the massive seed crop that would colonise every available piece of open ground if allowed to spread. Selective clearance of the dense holly undergrowth in a few areas allowed new seedlings of oak, hazel and ash to establish. With the help of an experienced woodsman, we coppiced the older hazel trees and layered some of the stems into the soil to produce more vigorous new growth. In two adjacent fields, we erected a kilometre of deer fencing and planted over 7,000 young native trees to extend the woodland up the valley. Native woodland has huge value to restore biodiversity to our depleted landscape, to link up areas of semi-natural habitat, prevent water pollution and capture carbon from the atmosphere, thus
Stream with wood anemones, credit Richard Nairn
slowing down climate change. It should be a priority for government to provide attractive incentives for landowners to convert agricultural land to this use. In a busy world, I find some peace just standing in the shade of an ancient tree and listening to the sound of a bubbling stream or a calling woodpecker. And I have the satisfaction of knowing that, by caring for this place, I am leaving a valuable habitat that will benefit the wildlife and many generations of people to come. Richard Nairn is an ecologist and writer who has published five books, including the recent volume Dublin Bay: Nature and History. He is a member of the steering group of Woodlands of Ireland.
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ON LOCATION
Oyster mushrooms
A GROWING BUSINESS Ballyhoura Mountain Mushrooms not only cultivates and forages delicious mushrooms from its base on the border of counties Limerick, Cork and Tipperary, but the company also manufactures a range of shelf-stable mushroom products sold nationwide.
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allyhoura Mountain Mushrooms was founded in 2011 by food scientist Mark Cribbin and microbiologist Dr Lucy Deegan, building upon a hobby of cultivating mushrooms and foraging wild mushrooms. The business is composed of three parts: the cultivation of mushrooms, picking of wild mushrooms, and manufacture of products and supplements from mushrooms. The company grows 14 types of mushroom, all saprophytic, and has a small hazel tree truffle plantation inoculated with symbiotic summer truffle. The saprophytic mushrooms (unlike the common white cap mushroom, which is cultivated on straw, chicken manure and peat) are all cultivated on wood substrate, which is sawdust or wood chips sourced as a waste product from saw mills, joinery factories or tree surgeons. Many people use the term “exotic” mushrooms to describe these; however, many 32
cultivated/picked in mainland Europe or airfreighted in from China and Korea. In relation to dealing with customers, the team at Ballyhoura Mountain Mushrooms ask this simple question: “Would you prefer to eat fresh fish that is two days old or a ‘fresh’ fish that is two weeks old?” The same applies to mushrooms, as the cell walls of mushrooms are comprised of chitin – the same substance in exoskeletons of prawns; this is the reason many mushrooms give off fish-like aromas on spoilage. In relation to wild mushroom foraging, whilst Ireland is climatically an excellent place for many species of wild mushrooms, the absence of mature woodland is problematic for many forest-dwelling fungi. However, plantation forestry does produce highly desirable fungi, such as winter chanterelle and ceps, and in often large numbers, due to the monoculture nature of the forestry, especially those that are “seeded” from river valleys that have residual fungal outposts from our own lost native forests. As in all cultivation processes, and indeed foraging for wild foods, you have times of glut, and with this excess product, Ballyhoura Mountain Mushrooms produces a range of shelf-stable products, such as mushroom ketchup, dried mushrooms, vinegars and seasonings. This ensures excess or unsold fresh products aren’t dumped but are turned into shelf-stable products sold to retailers across the country. Chantrelle mushrooms
are native to Ireland, including grey oyster and summer oyster, lion’s mane, white coral, and hen of the woods; whilst others, such as shiitake, are native to China/Japan, and king oyster are native to southern Europe. The growth process can take 16 to 18 weeks in the case of shiitake, whilst other species such as oyster mushrooms, can be successfully cultivated in four weeks. After successfully fruiting, the process does not end there, with the “waste” blocks further inoculated outside with another mushroom species, king stropharia, which produces another crop of mushrooms; this composted substrate is a potassium- and phosphorous-rich compost used as a fertiliser for originally forest-dwelling fruits such as blackcurrants, gooseberries and raspberries. The mushrooms cultivated and foraged at Ballyhoura are supplied direct to restaurants and also sold direct to consumers at farmers’ markets. In this marketplace, the company primarily competes against imported mushrooms either
Irish Wildlife Autumn ‘19
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Ag Méadú Eolas Muirí Ag Soláthair Seirbhísí Mara Building Ocean Knowledge Delivering Ocean Services
www.marine.ie
Introducing the new Irish Wildlife Trust membership card. Please fill in your name, cut out and keep your new membership card to present at talks and other events. Cards valid until February 28th 2020. Your 2020 card will be printed in our 2020 spring issue.
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Membership Card 2019
Individual members, please fill in your full name. Family members, please fill in your family name. Card valid until February 28th 2020. Your 2020 card will be printed in our spring 2019 magazine. © Irish Wildlife Trust 2019.
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