Irish Wildlife Winter 2015

ISSN - 1649 - 5705 • WINTER ‘15

IRISH MAGAZINE OF THE IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST

IRELAND’S

SIT BIE LDL FE W

MAGAZINE

COME LOOK AT THE BIRDS SPOTTED IN IRELAND: • Barn Owl • Painted Goby • Red Kite

DUBLIN BAY BIOSPHERE

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UN GLOBAL GOALS

YELLOWSTONE PARK

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PROTECT IRELAND’S WILDLIFE NOW! Poisonings, illegal trapping, baiting, shooting and hunting are horrifyingly commonplace – let’s make wildlife crime a thing of the past.

What you can do to help: If you suspect that a wildlife crime is taking, or has taken, place – REPORT IT! Ask your local TD for resources to combat wildlife crime Report sightings of non-native species Safely dispose of toxic substances Take extreme care if using rodenticides Distribute flyers to schools and libraries Promote the issue of wildlife crime and the www.wildlifecrime.ie website

CARSTEN KRIEGER PHOTOGRAPHY For more information on Irish wildlife crime and how you can help to stop it, please visit: www.wildlifecrime.ie

and download a free copy of our leaflet: ‘Wildlife Crime and the Law’, FINE ART PRINTS - BOOKS - WORKSHOPS which gives advice and contact details for reporting wildlife crime.

CARSTEN KRIEGER PHOTOGRAPHY 23/11/2015 14:53 FINE ART PRINTS - BOOKS - WORKSHOPS

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CARSTEN KRIEGER

FINE ART PRINTS - BOO

Join or renew your IWT membership today and make a difference for Irish Wildlife

“There’s a haunting quality to his work that makes even familiar images feel eerily new” Irish Independent

“There’s a haunting quality to his work that makes even familiar images feel e Irish Independent

STUDIO GALLERY NOW OPEN

STUDIO NOW OPEN Kilbaha North, Loop Head, County Clare, GALLERY Ireland

www.iwt.ie

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Kilbaha North, Loop Head, County Clare, Ireland

Web: www.carstenkrieger.com “There’s a haunting quality to his work that mak 23/11/2015 14:54 Email: info@carstenkrieger.com Irish Indepe

WELCOME

ISSN - 1649 - 5705 • WINTER ‘15

Chairperson’s Comment

IRISH MAGAZINE OF THE IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST

IRELAND’S

T BESIFE WILDL

MAGAZINE

COME LOOK AT THE BIRDS SPOTTED IN IRELAND: • Barn Owl • Painted Goby • Red Kite

DUBLIN BAY BIOSPHERE

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UN GLOBAL GOALS

YELLOWSTONE PARK

Cover credits Main image: Robin by Andrew Kelly.

Contents page credits Yellowstone Park - Always Shooting/Flickr.

Viviparous lizard - Eskling/ Flickr.

19/11/2015 11:00

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.

As I begin the task of stepping into my predecessor’s oversized shoes in the role of chairperson, I thought it fitting that I brie y introduce yself. i e aniel y bac ground is in ecology although of freshwater rather than of a als and I have been based for the last nu ber of years in the etlands entre in ralee o erry. I a therefore fortunate that y day to day work is as an environmental advocate and educator of people of all ages and walks of life, rather than so ething I pursue as I used to in y spare ti e. I beca e involved with the erry ranch of the Irish Wildlife Trust shortly after moving to Kerry, as I was seeking to work with local NGOs in the centre’s activities, and joined the council last year as the regional representative for the unster branches. y first e periences of the I were therefore with a local branch running events for local people and I fir ly believe that it is with the branches and their e bership that the future of the I lies as we ove forward. he wor of the branches which ranges fro community wilding and planting projects to children’s art events and everything in between, is crucially dependent on your support, so wherever you are reading this around the country, if you haven’t been to an event run by your local branch lately I would urge you to do so. If you don’t have a branch nearby, I would equally urge you to start one! e stand at so ething of a crossroads in Ireland as we e erge fro a difficult period of recession and austerity. In any ways environ ental issues have never been ore in the edia and in the public eye and there is great awareness of these issues even a ong young schoolchildren.

However, the political will to address these issues has been slow to catch up and the agencies responsible for the anage ent of our wildlife have been crippled by years of cuts. oupled with an increased tendency to verminise our wildlife, as our campaigns manager eloquently put it this week, and we have situations like the recent call for the lowland deer in Killarney National Park to be culled due to an alleged increase in road traffic accidents despite the actual nu bers of this e tre ely i portant herd not being nown in the first place the indiscri inate netting of baitfish in our sensitive arine special areas of conservation and of course the ongoing slaughter of our badgers to control bovine tuberculosis, despite the increasing number of studies that show this culling to be ineffective. o for the sa e of all of Ireland’s wildlife when govern ent representatives co e to your doorstep over the co ing onths see ing your vote for re election I strongly suggest that you ask them where they stand on these issues and what they and their party’s environmental agenda actually is for the coming years before handing it over!

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

avid c or ic Chairperson, Irish Wildlife Trust

Printed on

All articles © 2015. 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

contriiButors DR JENNI ROCHE has been appointed as Biosphere Coordinator of Dublin Bay UNESCO biosphere. Jenni is an experienced ecologist, with a background in research and consultancy. She completed a degree in Environmental Science and a PhD in Botany at Trinity College Dublin. Her role is to liaise between the members of Dublin Bay Biosphere Partnership and the community and to facilitate the Partnership in developing and implementing plans for the biosphere.

ERIC DEMPSEY was born and raised in Finglas in north Dublin and now lives in Wicklow. He is recognised as one of Ireland’s leading bird experts. Eric is a professional guide, writer, speaker, wildlife photographer and broadcaster. He is the author of the bestselling Complete Field Guide to Ireland’s Birds, Finding Birds in Ireland, Birdwatching in Ireland with Eric Dempsey and Ireland’s Wildlife Year. His new book, Don’t Die in Autumn, a memoir, has just been published.

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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.

12.

EDUCATION aty gan discusses the benefits of investing in natural capital.

13.

BRANCH FOCUS Ricky Whelan reports on the redevelopment of Portlaoise’s beautiful town park.

14.

WILD IDEAS Will harnessing our ocean’s resources have an unforeseen environmental impact? Patrick Cross examines Irish marine policy and our environmental conservation efforts.

17.

COMPETITION Once again, we’re offering our readers the chance to win one of two wonderful publications!

18.

FEATURE – COME AND SEE THE BIRDS ric e psey a leading bird e pert re ects on childhood dreams and his passion for birds.

22.

EXPLORING WILDLIFE ordon ’ rcy re ects on a recent visit to the beautiful and untamed Yellowstone Park.

24.

WINTER FOCUS Billy Flynn on the fate of Ireland and the UK’s wild birds.

26.

FIELD REPORT ohn usby aptor onservation fficer ird atch Ireland, on the beautiful and mysterious barn owl.

28.

OVER TO YOU A selection of letters and photos sent in

by Irish Wildlife Trust members.

30.

IN THE FRAME A recap of news, events and photography from 2015.

32.

ON LOCATION Jenni Roche discusses Dublin Bay’s elevation to biosphere status.

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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.

IMAGES THIS PAGE: TOP: Siskin (Feature on pages 18-21); CENTRE: Dublin Bay by Peter Barrow (On Location on page 32); BOTTOM: Getting up close to the creepy crawlies at Portlaoise Town Park (Branch Focus on page 13).

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 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.

The IWT encourages action at a local level and has a number of branches around the country: Cork: corkbranch@gmail.com Facebook: search for ‘Irish Wildlife Trust – Cork Branch’ Dublin: Barbara, dublinbranch@iwt.ie facebook.com/DublinBranchIrishWildlife Trust, dubliniwt.blogspot.ie Waterford: Denis Cullen, iwtwaterford@gmail.com, deniscullen@ eircom.net, irishwildlifetrust.blogspot.ie Cavan: 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: Lenny, iwtgalway@gmail.com www.facebook.com/IWTgalwaybranch Longford/Westmeath: Chris Martin, 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

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CONSERVATION NEWS

CONSERVATION

NEWS Dr Debbi Pedreschi on the latest conservation news from Ireland and around the world.

IRISH NEWS

SEALS NOT GUILTY! New research carried out by Queen’s University Belfast, University College Cork and the Marine Institute found that seals are having no significant impact on populations of the most popular species of fish caught for commercial purposes along the south and west coasts of Ireland. In the first comprehensive study of its kind, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, its conclusions suggest that the seals do not compete with fishermen over the stocks. The issue of seals in Irish waters has been controversial in recent years, and there have been calls from some quarters for a cull.

The research team highlight that seals can create significant problems for static fishing gear, such as the fixed nets used by estuarine salmon fishers, and they may also impact on numbers of wild salmon. However for most commercially fished species (herring, mack-

erel, cod, haddock, whiting and 30 other species) seals are having no significant negative effect on numbers because the seals are eating much smaller fish than the larger, mature specimens that fishermen are required by law to catch. Although the seals are often eating the same species of fish, young fish outnumber their mature relatives in any given species, and so there is no conflict with the fishermen.

The research used diverse methods such as examining the gut contents of seals and fish, as well as scat of both grey and common seals, using samples taken from commercial catches and research vessel surveys. The conclusions also differed from those of some other model-based studies of North Atlantic systems, demonstrating the need for ecosystem-specific evidence in considering such conflicts.

NPWS CALLS ON PUBLIC TO REPORT ILLEGAL HARE HUNTING Incidences of illegal hare hunting have been increasing in the greater midlands area. The practice usually involves people entering farmland and bogs without permission, with one or more lurcher/greyhound/whippet type dogs. The number of people involved in a group can vary, but groups of two to eight individuals have been reported. Dogs are kept on leads until a hare is flushed, whereupon the dogs chase and catch the hare, generally resulting in its death. The Irish hare is a unique endemic sub species of the mountain hare and is a protected species under the Wildlife Act. First time offenders face fines of up to 1,000 and/or up to three months in prison for each charge. The NPWS has recently brought cases before district courts, resulting in convictions. The organisation says it would greatly appreciate information from farmers, lawful hunters and members of the public. People are encouraged to make reports, in confidence and preferably as the activity is on-going, to 01 888 3242 or email nature.conservation@ ahg.gov.ie. In the event of NPWS being unavailable, please note that An Garda Síochána can also enforce the Wildlife Acts.

5 Hare. Photo: A. Kelly

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CONSERVATION NEWS

IRISH NEWS

VERMIN CONTROL THREATENING WILDLIFE The indiscriminate laying of poisons is killing the birds and small animals that act as a natural check on vermin. The ongoing use of poisons is destroying the natural ecosystem which, if left alone, could itself go a long way in controlling the vermin that cause millions of euro worth of damage each year. Wildlife expert Éanna Ní Lamhna, spokesperson for the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU), is calling on people to realise that while poisons kill the target species, with improper use they also inadvertently kill birds such as kestrels and owls, and mammals such as stoats and pine martins, which are rodents’ natural predators. One pair of barn owls alone can kill up to 500 rats in a year, but the numbers of these species are dropping primarily due to secondary poisoning from mice and rats (see our Field Report feature). The CRRU is hoping that a series of courses aimed at pest control agents will, in turn, help educate people further on the proper use of certain rodenticides that have decimated some of the rare birds of prey population in Ireland in recent years. The CRRU has developed a seven point code of practice which should be complied with farming activities under GLAS, the new Agri-Environment Scheme. In recent years the European population of white-tailed sea eagles has been evaluated as rare, with currently less than 10,000 pairs breeding in the region. Re-introduction efforts in Ireland since 2007 have faced an uphill struggle to ensure their survival, with a total of 31 reported deaths from the 100 released in Killarney National Park in the past eight years, at least 13 of which were due to poisoning. Bird of prey poisoning and deaths are monitored under the Recording and Addressing Persecution and Threats to Our Raptors (RAPTOR) protocol, which is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Last year saw the highest number of raptor persecution cases and the NPWS is currently pursuing a number of investigations.

ASH DIEBACK GAINING GROUND

Confirmed outbreaks of ash dieback may potentially double, with almost the same number of confirmed findings (26) in the first six months of 2015 as for the previous year (30), despite a 2.3m spend on uprooting two million trees. Over a third of all findings since October 2012 have been in forestry plantations, followed by roadside and farm planting. There are indications that the outbreaks are related to the import of infected plants. By the first quarter of this year over 693ha of infected ash plantations had been cleared and replanted with alternative species, which involved the uprooting and deep burial of approximately two million ash trees since October 2012. Importation of ash seed, plants and wood has also been regulated since 2012, while the species has been excluded from all of the Department’s forestry schemes, as well as roadside planting by the National Roads Authority.

The Department launched the TreeCheck app in April, which seeks the public’s assistance in spotting and reporting potential tree diseases such as ash dieback. However, no confirmed findings of the disease have resulted from the app to date. The results of the Department’s targeted surveys for ash dieback for July, August and September are currently being collated.

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5 Barn owl. Photo: Eskling/Flickr

DESTRUCTION OF MIDLANDS BRONZE AGE ROAD A long oak road discovered in 2005 at Mayne Bog in Coole, Co Westmeath, has been the subject of recent controversy. Longer, and more impressive than the Iron Age road unearthed at Corlea Bog in Co. Longford, which went on to become a prime tourism attraction, the National Monuments Service established that it was no mere trackway. Measuring up to 6m in width, it dates to 1200-820 BC, 1,000 years older than Corlea.

However, when Westland Horticulture uncovered it in 2005 the National Monuments Service did not issue a preservation order or record it in the Register of Historic Monuments. Westland Horticulture, extracting peat from the site at the time, were expected to cease work immediately, however the National Monuments Service failed to issue a preservation order, or record it in the Register of Historic Monuments. Shockingly, this has led to the continued destruction of the road; at least 75 per cent of which is now gone. An Taisce contacted the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht about the destruction, to be met with a response by a spokesperson for Minister Heather Humphries saying: “Given the co-operation so far secured from the landowner, it is not considered that further steps under the National Monuments Acts... would be useful or warranted at this stage.” Considering the age of the track (pre-Roman) it is deemed to be of European importance, and hopes remain that the European Commission will intervene.

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CONSERVATION NEWS

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Successful Grey Squirrel Eradication in Anglesey The UK island of Anglesey has managed to completely eliminate grey squirrels after an 18 year cull carried out in an attempt to promote a red squirrel resurgence. In a situation similar to Ireland, once common red squirrels have declined rapidly in the UK since the 1950s, falling in numbers from about 3.5 million to a current estimated population of around 130,000. Grey squirrels arrived in Anglesey in the mid-1960s. By 1998 the species had re5 Grey squirrel. Photo: A. Kelly. placed the red squirrel almost completely, with only 40 red squirrels remaining. The island last had a sighting of a grey squirrel in 2013 and has now been declared the first area of the UK to become grey squirrel-free through human efforts. As culling is often controversial, challenges were presented with public perception and culling methods. The greys were caught through cage live-trapping before being killed by a single blow to the back of the head – regarded to be a humane method. As the traps do not kill the squirrels, any reds that are caught can be released without harm. However opponents find it hard to resolve the killing of an invasive alien squirrel species in order to save the native squirrel species, calling it irrational. Today Anglesey has the largest and most genetically diverse population of red squirrels in Wales with around 700 recorded on the island. The success has led to the announcement of £1.2m of Heritage Lottery Fund money for a grey cull in the neighbouring county of Gwynedd, where no natives have been spotted for nearly 70 years.

FIRST FIELD SIGHTING OF RARE OMURA’S WHALE

Details of the first field sighting of the rare Omura’s whale off the coast of Madagascar have been published. Genetic tests carried out in 2003 on stranded and hunted whale carcasses, then thought to be dwarf versions of Bryde’s whale, instead revealed them to be their own unique species, the Omura’s whale. The species occurs in remote regions, and being small (11-12m), with no prominent blow, present difficulties for identification at sea according to the lead study author Salvatore Cerchio, a whale researcher with the Wildlife Conservation Society. On an expedition in 2013, Cerchio and his colleagues witnessed the surfacing of Omura’s whales, clearly identifying the species’ unique asymmetrical pigmentation on their lower jaws. So little is known about their habitat and range that the team were not expecting to see the elusive species in that part of the Indian Ocean. The discovery led to a two year study on the species’ movements, vocalistions and behaviour in the region, with skin biopsies collected from 18 adult Omura’s whales. Their research so far indicates a preference for a shallow-water shelf habitat, a loose social organisation, vocalisations (likely linked to reproduction) and indications of sitefidelity and a lack of migration in the species. The group hope to continue their studies, with aims to deploy satellite tags to enable scientists to track the whales into other regions.

OZONE HOLE LARGEST YET Despite the slowing of ozone emissions that caused the ozone hole to develop, one of the largest ozone holes yet seen opened up above Antarctica this autumn.

On October 2nd, US space agency NASA measured the hole at 28.2 million square kilometres, the largest yet observed.

On average over 30 days, the hole was 26.9 million square kilometres, the third largest after the record-breaking holes that appeared in 2000 and 2006.

Despite this, the World Meteorological Association believes that the damage is halting and the hole should revert to normal in the coming decades.

Ozone depletion has been observed since the late 1970s, primarily due to the catalytic destruction of ozone by atomic halogens produced from man-made halocarbon refrigerants, solvents, propellants, and foam-blowing agents (CFCs, HCFCs, freons, halons) released into the air. The ozone layer prevents the most harmful UVB wavelengths of ultraviolet light from passing through the Earth’s atmosphere, protecting us from increases in sunburn, skin cancer, cataracts, DNA damage, damage to plants, and reduction of plankton populations in the ocean’s photic zone.

These risks led to the adoption of the Montreal Protocol in 1987 that bans the production of CFCs, halons and other ozone-depleting chemicals. This has gradually brought down CFC levels and with it ozone damage, however full recovery may not be achieved until the next decade.

CLIMATE PLANS INSUFFICIENT TO PREVENT DANGEROUS WARMING

The UN has released its assessment of national plans to limit climate change, stating that the current plans will not keep global temperatures from rising by more than the 2°C danger threshold. Although carbon emissions will be “significantly dented” if all the plans are put into action, total emissions will continue to grow, albeit more slowly than over the past two decades. The UN hopes that the plans will form the cornerstone for a binding, global treaty on climate change that will be agreed at COP 21 this December in Paris (a COP is a ‘conference of the parties’ and it is their 21st meeting). The plans now cover around 86 per cent of global emissions; about four times the amount covered by the Kyoto Protocol, the world’s first carbon cutting treaty, and taken together they point to increases in global temperatures of 2.7°C above the pre-industrial level by 2100.

Keep up-to-date on all the latest news from the Irish Wildlife Trust on www.iwt.ie Irish Wildlife Winter ‘15

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IWT NEWS

IWT NEWS PROJECT UPDATE

By Lorraine Bull, Development Officer.

T

his autumn, we were successful in securing funding for seven projects through the Local Agenda 21 programme, including invasive species mapping and wildflower meadow creation in County Laois, otter surveys in Dublin and Galway, pre-school environmental awareness in Offaly, hedgerow biodiversity talks in Tipperary and educational walks in South Dublin. As many of these projects will be citizen science-based, it would be great if members get involved — many of the surveys will be a great opportunity to spot our native wildlife, learn about their ecology and meet with other wildlife enthusiasts. For further information, do keep an eye on our website or get in touch.

We would also like to extend a big thank you to everyone who submitted sightings for this year’s Irish Lizard Survey. The results from the survey have been compiled

5Viviparous Lizard, Whitespots Country

Park, Newtownards. Photo: Eskling/Flickr.

and in total, 34 sightings from 17 different counties were submitted. Please do keep those sightings coming in, though, as we will be continuing our survey from

next April until 2017. For further information, please see www.iwt.ie/lizard-survey.

This project has been kindly supported by Dublin Zoo.

BUSY AUTUMN FOR IWT

By Lorraine Bull, Development Officer.

A

utumn was another busy period for us here at the Irish Wildlife Trust.

We held our AGM in Galway on Saturday September 12th, which included a visit to Merlin Woods, and then attended the Irish Environmental Network’s AGM, Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland’s wildlife crime conference (see report in this issue), Teagasc’s Biodiversity Conference in Portlaoise and the Irish Mammal Symposium in Cork.

Our education and outreach programme

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conducted public bat walks in the Phoenix Park and rock pooling around Dublin Bay, and then presented at Dún Laoghaire -Rathdown County Council’s Eco Conference, where transition year students were encouraged to learn about and debate current environmental issues. Then in November, we were delighted to conduct primary school workshops for the Midlands Science Festival in Offaly and to run our first workshop at the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s education centre in Knocksink Woods, Co. Wicklow.

Also in October and November, our 2015 programme of wildlife talks for the OPW at St. Enda’s, Rathfarnham, finished with a exploration of ‘Dublin’s trees and wild flowers: legends and folklore’ by Niall Mac Coitir and hibernation and winter survival

by Lorraine Bull. While we hope to have another programme of talks at St. Enda’s again from next spring, in the meantime do come along to their Christmas market on Sunday November 29th where we will have a stall selling the perfect gift items for Christmas.

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IWT NEWS

Highlights from the 2015 Irish Wildlife Crime Conference

By Lorraine Bull, Development Officer.

I

n 2013, Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland hosted Ireland’s first Wildlife Crime Conference bringing together members of An Garda Síochána, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), veterinary practitioners, animal welfare and conservation groups to raise awareness of, and discuss the various issues surrounding, wildlife crime in Ireland.

The second Wildlife Crime Conference was held at the Pillo Hotel, Ashbourne this September.

Mairead McGuinness, MEP, opened the conference, stressing that wildlife crime should be taken seriously, being the fourth most profitable criminal activity in the world. An Garda Síochána were represented by Chief Superintendents Fergus Healy and Martin Walker, who discussed how the Gardaí can support the NPWS in the prevention of wildlife crime, and how there has been greater success in combating it by working together. The full horror of wildlife crime was also demonstrated by the screening of seized footage, which showed a deer being dragged by dogs goaded on by their owner! The Forensic Science Laboratory was present, with Stephen Clifford showing the forensic side of solving crimes.

The NPWS were also well represented with Maurice Eakin discussing wildlife legislation, what constitutes a wildlife crime in law and the issues in proving guilt. Niall O Donnchú discussed the NPWS’ role in prevention and prosecution of wildlife crime. Barry O’Donoghue explained the protocols and reporting under the NPWS RAPTOR scheme (Recording and Addressing the Persecution of Our Raptors) that can identify pressures and inform enforcement. While Ciara Flynn highlighted the rather worrying trends in the illegal trading of animals, including an Irish-based criminal gang who ran the theft of rhino horn from museums across Europe, some of which was seized at Shannon Airport. The NPWS rangers also provided

Photo: Annette

Lynch

Photo: Maurice Eakin, District Conservation Officer, NPWS

Photo: Mau

rice Eakin

practical advise and shared their expertise.

Stephen Clifford from the Forensic Science Laboratory also showed solving crime from a forensic perspective.

Animal welfare, conservation and ecology groups provided their expertise. Andrew Kelly highlighted the role of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) in combating wildlife crime and the value of the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013. Oonagh Duggan from Birdwatch Ireland discussed the importance of defending the laws protecting Ireland’s wild birds, which are being reviewed in the EU, and the reviews of Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts taking place here, which could devastate already highly endangered birds. Implications in relation to Section 40 changes on butterflies were also highlighted by Jesmond Harding from Butterfly Conservation Ireland, as well as how habitat destruction and illegal collectors are adding to the problems for butterflies.

Ecologist Faith Wilson reported on the issue of designated Irish wetlands. Mark Lynch from the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) presented an analysis of rodenticide poisoning of birds of prey, and Damien Hannigan from the Wild Deer Association of Ireland reported on how they’ve been combating deer poaching. To add balance, David Scallon of the

National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) discussed a gun club’s perspective of the Wildlife Acts, whereas Lorcan O’Toole from the Golden Eagle Trust discussed the role of farming in wildlife conservation.

As per the last conference, there was an international flavour to the presentations, with a fascinating talk by Mick Moran from INTERPOL on the information revolution and satellite tracking tags being used by poachers to identify critically endangered wildlife. Bob Elliot from the RSPB shared some examples from their wealth of wildlife investigations, and Ian Hutchison of Scottish Badgers discussed badger baiting and alternative ways to tackle the problem.

To finish, the WRI launched the new wildlife crime reporting website: www.wildlifecrime.ie and information leaflet. All in all it was a great weekend, and I hope it continues to spark debate and collaborative working among all groups. There certainly is a need and, as if to reinforce the point, a few days after the conference, the IWT office received a call regarding the burnt remains of a fox cub that had been dumped. Several phone calls later the case was finally being investigated, but let’s hope that in the future, wildlife crime will receive the priority response that it truly deserves.

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IWT NEWS

CAMPAIGN

NEWS AGRICULTURE AND BIODIVERSITY

By Pádraic Fogarty, Campaigns Officer.

T

he IWT has been raising the issue of declining farmland biodiversity for three decades. This decline has, if anything, steepened in recent years, but since the start of the economic recession it has coincided with the marketing of Irish food as ‘sustainably produced’ by Irish government agencies. The National Parks and Wildlife Service last year received €9.2 million for the work it does in conserving our natural heritage, while An Bord Bia received €27.7 million for marketing Irish food, including for its Origin Green labelling programme. It is figures like these that highlight how the consumer is being duped into believing all is well in the management of the Irish environment.

In May of this year we found ourselves in the unusual position of being forced to challenge an organisation that has been admired by generations of Irish nature-lovers – the World Wide Fund for Nature (usually referred to simply as the WWF). The WWF published an article in the summer issue of their online magazine entitled ‘Ireland and the Future of Sustainability – a new model of forward thinking agriculture’. The article quoted Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney (in referring to the Origin Green marketing campaign) as saying “yes, it’s an environmental crusade – but with a real commercial edge. Happy cows and green fields make a good image.

But to back that up now we have the science to show the long-term benefits behind this traditional way of farming.”

The IWT was surprised that WWF had printed this article with no input from any Irish environmental organisation, indeed

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WWF has no representation in Ireland (perhaps the only country in Europe where this is the case). We contacted WWF to highlight that far from there being an “environmental crusade” underway in Ireland, what is really happing is a marketing crusade. The reality is that while Origin Green measures and verifies carbon emissions, a worthy measure to be sure, it does nothing to stop the pollution of watercourses from farm run-off, the decline in farmland birds, the needless culling of badgers, the over-exploitation of our seas or the degradation of our uplands. The WWF’s editorial director Alex MacLennan replied to our letter saying he had been “unaware of the controversies you mention at the time of writing the article” and admitted that “we could have done more to seek additional perspectives in the article”. WWF’s involvement with, and effective endorsement of, Origin Green, without having made any effort to make itself aware of the specific issues in Ireland or to seek the views of local organisations is disappointing and simply adds to the sense that Simon Coveney’s “environmental crusade” is really no more than greenwashing.

In October the IWT was happy to meet with the CEO of An Bord Bia to discuss our concerns. We made it clear that while we welcome Origin Green as a good start on the road to sustainability in agriculture, the reality is that it is being sold as an achievement that is already in the bag. We welcome the fact that Origin Green is evolving but current initiatives will go nowhere in addressing the biodiversity crisis that exists on our island.

It is a simple fact that we have yet to reach a point where environmental concerns are given anywhere near the weight they de-

serve among politicians or civil servants in government departments. If they were serious they could start by properly funding state conservation agencies.

See: www.worldwildlife.org/magazine/ issues/summer-2015/articles/ireland-andthe-future-of-sustainability

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IWT NEWS

5Main picture: Fishing

nets near Dingle Bay

5Above: The Global Goals.

Ireland joins a global initiative to protect marine life

By Pádraic Fogarty, Campaigns Officer.

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n September, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations and joined the world community in signing Ireland up to the Global Goals – 17 sustainable development goals to be achieved over the next 15 years. In fact Ireland played a significant role in developing the goals as our diplomats co-chaired (along with Kenya) the negotiations. The goals are significant in that they move beyond the idea of rich countries and poor countries in encouraging everyone to embrace the sustainable development issues on our doorsteps. The IWT is particularly pleased with goals 14: to protect life below water, and 15: to protect life on land. We participated in a forum hosted by the Irish Environmental Network and Dóchas, the Irish association for non-governmental development organisations, where a number of the

goals were discussed. We highlighted the important role that a healthy ocean plays in feeding people, providing jobs and maintaining the fabric of biodiversity that supports all life.

The challenges that we face in this country in protecting our marine environment were highlighted once again in November when the IWT received reports that a practice known as pair-trawling was underway in Kenmare Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) between counties Kerry and Cork. This type of fishing uses two boats to trawl using a fine mesh net to catch small fish which, in turn, end up as fishmeal. The Kenmare river is important for seals and marine reefs but is also a wildlife tourism hotspot. While pair-trawling may well be legal the IWT believes that it is inappropriate for it to be allowed in an SAC and highlights the continuing hiatus in developing clear rules for what is,

and what is not, permitted in these highly sensitive areas. Pair-trawling has been associated with by-catch of marine mammals but will also catch anything that is in the way of the net, and so is potentially harmful to the ecosystem as a whole. The IWT wrote to Minister for the Marine Simon Coveney, who has responsibility for managing commercial fisheries in designated areas, to highlight our concerns, but we had not received a response at the time of going to press.

The IWT believes that commercial fishing is an important industry that supports coastal communities and economies.

However historic and on-going mismanagement of marine resources is damaging the environment and resulting in fewer economic opportunities for those who depend on it. The future of the fishing industry depends upon putting environmental considerations first.

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23/11/2015 14:00

EDUCATION

OUR NATURAL CAPITAL

Katy Egan discusses the benefits of investing in natural capital. magine an economy that placed as much value on natural capital as it does on built capital. What would our world look like? What resources would we invest in? Would a skyscraper be more valuable than a woodland?

This idea is not as outlandish as it may first appear. he ter natural capital’ is becoming more commonly used in economic spheres as a way to monetarily value the natural world. Over the past few years our understanding of the interplay between the economy and the environment has become far more sophisticated. As soon as you delve into the science of ecology, even just a little bit, you can easily see that the natural world is the foundation of our materials economy. Every material item that we make, create or design to sell comes from the natural world, from plastics to cement to the latest fashion trends or even make-up.

For those of us that see the natural world and other species as having an inherent value, independent of human needs, it can be challenging to see nature reduced to a monetary value. However it is an incredible forum for communicating how much we rely upon ecosystems for essential services.

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Ecosystem services, put simply, are our life support system, they are the reason we can survive on this planet. Twenty three basic services have been identified that are divided into four different categories depending on the service they provide (regulating, habitat, provisioning and information services). If you would like to know more about these, Earth Economics has a free handbook available online (see www.eartheconomics.org).

Natural capital refers to the plants and animals that work together to provide these essential life support services. The main idea behind monetising these services is to encourage investment by governments in these ecosystems. For example, what if a city invested in watershed protection instead of building a water filtration plant In the ew or ats ills invested . illion into protecting its watershed. They invested in their natural capital and as a result they saved $6 billion on a water treatment plant and an annual operating expense of $300 million.

The advantage of natural capital is that it appreciates over time by creating biomass (material) from sunlight. It also appreciates even further as thresholds decrease, so as the resource diminishes, what is left becomes

ore valuable. oday for the first ti e the logging industry is held back by resource availability (lack of forests to cut down), rather than the technology to cut down forests uic ly and efficiently. s living organis s are self-regulating, self-repairing and carry out their lives independently, natural capital requires very little management. Compare this to built capital which depreciates heavily over time. In contrast to the Catskills example, New Jersey built a water treatment plant and in addition to the cost of construction and maintenance, they also paid $2.6 million for repairs after Hurricane Sandy struc in . uilt capital can be hugely expensive, needs constant management and regular replacement of parts. One of the most significant proble s with built capital is that its very construction can negatively impact ecosystems and the services they provide.

There are several other examples of the benefits of investing in natural capital through food, air, biomass and even technological progress. While it is incredibly important to innovate and progress as a society, perhaps we shouldn’t throw out the baby with the bathwater and instead recognise what already works really well.

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BRANCH FOCUS

Wild Times at Portlaoise Town Park Ricky Whelan reports on the redevelopment of Portlaoise’s beautiful town park.

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recent move by Laois County Council to redevelop Portlaoise town park has seen some excellent changes to improve the habitats and conditions for local wildlife. The IWT Laois/Offaly Branch has been involved in an advisory role since the council first set out their intentions to make serious provisions for wildlife at the park.

During the early stages the branch led primary and secondary school trips to the park to test its viability for outdoor learning.

The park’s existing habitats such as the lake, woods and grasslands lent themselves well to learning about ecology and biodiversity. During the primary school visit the children from a predominately urban background had a fantastic time exploring the par ’s wilder areas and finding any species during the wildlife bingo activity.

The secondary school pupils spent time focusing on topics taken from the biology curriculum such as habitat investigation and using field e uip ent. oth visits were a massive success and the species discovered by the children were used to inform the new wildlife interpretation panels now on

display at the park.

During the early summer the gates of the park were shut and machinery moved in. We waited to see what work had taken place and we’re delighted with the works to-date.

In the first phase a wilderness play area, enlarged meadow grassland patches, a tree trail and outdoor classroom were all added in addition to the path and signage upgrades, outdoor gym and other features.

A large amount of specially designed bird and bat boxes were made by Portlaoise Men’s Shed members who deliberately focused designs around species found locally.

In August, as part of Heritage Week, the attention turned to the wild creatures living in the park once more. Members from the IWT Laois/Offaly Branch, Birdwatch Ireland Laois Branch and Portlaoise Men’s Shed teamed up for the Homes for Wildlife event. On the day, families from around the county enjoyed a host of activities from exploring the creatures from the Triogue River that cuts through the park to bird watching and building the park’s new Insect Hotel. The event was enjoyed by all who attended and further demonstrated the potential for enjoying nature in this public amenity space right in the centre of the bustling town of Portlaoise.

On Friday October 9th the town park was officially opened and the crowd that assembled was greeted by a most beautiful autumn day, which served to highlight the great work done. The new facilities such as the orienteering course, tree trail and wilderness play area were well and truly tested by pupils from the surrounding schools. During the speeches, council staff and delegates gave great mention of the

wildlife and habitat aspects of the works and the collaboration with local environmental organisations. The commitment from Laois County Council to undertake these works and manage the park as an amenity, wildlife and education space is clear.

The Laois Branch are delighted to have been involved in such a successful project and would like to commend Laois County Council on their work and commitment to carrying out the work.

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19/11/2015 11:41

WILD IDEAS

HARNESSING OUR OCEAN WEALTH: AT WHAT COST?

By Patrick Cross.

H

ow well does Irish marine policy ensure the protection of Ireland’s marine ecosystems?

Considering Ireland’s on-going focus on coastal tourism and its growing desire for a reputation as an organic seafood hotspot, the answer to this question could have long-term economic, environ ental and social ra ifications for the Irish people. Fáilte Ireland estimates that tourism in Ireland’s coastal regions is worth €2 billion annually, with half of that coming from overseas visitors – well-managed, vibrant coastal destinations are central to this visitor experience.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, recently stated that Ireland’s seafood sector will reach an annual value of €1 billion by 2020. Key to the development of this sector are healthy, productive marine environments. So how does Ireland fare when it comes to creating policy to protect these critical ecosystems and the services they provide?

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WILD IDEAS

5Painted goby. Photo: Mark Thomas

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WILD IDEAS

5Angler fish. Photo: Mark Thomas

A Chequered Past The history of Irish environmental conservation is a mixed read. In a report for the National Economic and Social Council, Noel Cahill describes Ireland as “a relative latecomer to widespread awareness of the significance of environ entalis .

Due to low income levels and under population, economic development has traditionally taken precedent over environmental considerations. To date the Irish conservation effort has been driven al ost e clusively by the in uence of the European Union, through policy instruments such as the 1992 Habitats Directive and the more recent Marine Strategy Framework Directive in 2008. urope’s in uence upon Ireland e tends beyond the realm of environmental conservation, also affecting the focus of business development interests. Today Irish and European marine environments are at the centre of the con ict between econo ic development and environmental protection, with the former typically taking precedence.

In its 2007 Integrated Maritime Policy, the European Union called upon EU Member States to produce their own national marine plans, leading to the creation of the Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth strategy by the Irish Government. his is the first ti e Ireland has created dedicated policy attempting to address all facets of Irish marine and maritime activities. In line with the Europe 2020 strategy for Blue Growth, the document outlines the Government’s intent to 16

increase turnover from Ireland’s marine sector to €6.4 billion by 2020 and to double sectoral economic output to 2.4% of GDP by 2030. The European Blue rowth agenda defines five focus areas with future development potential: blue energy; marine and coastal tourism; marine mineral resources; biotechnology; and aquaculture. This agenda has been strongly criticised by the European Seas Environmental Cooperation for supporting ar et e pansion without a sufficient understanding of the potential negative impacts on marine ecosystems, noting that for all five focus areas the agnitude and scope of environmental impacts are highly uncertain. The gaps in data and knowledge for all of the are substantial . s Ireland has followed the European lead in this matter, the question must be asked: is there a business and development bias within the Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth agenda?

Unanswered Questions The second Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth conference took place in June 2015 at the National Maritime College Ireland in Ringaskiddy, Cork. Keynote speakers at the event were Minster Simon Coveney and EU Commissioner for the nviron ent ariti e ffairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella. Neither speaker addressed the protection of Ireland’s marine environments in any detail, focusing instead on the economic development and growth potential of Irish marine and maritime sectors. The same can be said for the

Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth reports where conservation plays a distant second fiddle to the pro inence of financial expansion. Of the conservation initiatives that are highlighted in these reports, some have outstanding issues that negatively affect their i pact and efficacy. he Common Fisheries Policy and its remit to protect failing uropean fish stoc s has performed poorly in the past and the opinion a ong the scientific co unity is that this form is set to continue. The Irish effort to designate and manage atura arine rotected reas is hampered by administrative fragmentation and inadequate staff and funding resources for responsible authorities.

The danger here is as described by the European Seas Environmental Cooperation in 2012. The Irish Government is chasing an expansion of Ireland’s marine and maritime sectors under the moniker of sustainability, without a sufficient understanding of the impacts of these activities on sensitive ecosystems and the services they provide.

How well does Ireland’s new marine policy ensure the protection of Irish marine ecosystems? Unfortunately, at present the answer appears to be quite poorly.

Patrick Cross is a recent graduate of the UCC Masters Programme in Applied Coastal and Marine Management. Particular research interests include EU marine conservation policy and the advancement of ocean literacy within public and political structures.

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23/11/2015 14:01

ult), ry

nes rt).

n o i t i t e p m o C

COMPETITION

Once again, we’re offering our readers the chance to win one of two wonderful publications!

Like us, many of you will no doubt be familiar with buying The Irish Times on a Saturday just to read Michael Viney’s Another Life column. We’re delighted that he has brought out a new book and can give our beloved readers a chance to win one of three copies that we have to give away.

Reflections on Another Life By Michael Viney Michael Viney and his family left Dublin in 1977 to move to a house with an acre of land in Co Mayo whereupon he began writing his Another Life column. He has become one of Ireland’s most authoritative naturalists and a keen observer of landscape, local environment and the wider natural world. Michael Viney’s Reflections on Another Life is available directly from The Irish Times at irishtimes.com/irishtimesbooks. Postage is free in Ireland.

Don’t Die In Autumn By Eric Dempsey Don’t Die in Autumn is a soaring memoir from bestselling birdwatcher Eric Dempsey. For him, the death of a close friend crystallised something in his mind – life is too short not to spend it doing something you love. Aged 40 and gainfully employed in a secure, pensionable job, he threw it all away to follow his passion for birdwatching and set off on the adventure of a lifetime. Eric Dempsey is recognised as one of Ireland’s leading bird experts and is a professional guide, speaker, wildlife photographer and writer.

Eric is also an experienced broadcaster and a member of the Mooney Goes Wild team on RTÉ Radio 1. He is the author of the bestselling Finding Birds in Ireland, The Field Guide to

Ireland’s Birds, Birdwatching in Ireland with Eric Dempsey and Ireland’s Wildlife Year.

To win one of these great new books just answer the following question: In what Midlands town has the local IWT branch been working with the local authority to develop a wildlife friendly park?

Send your answer, name and address, along with the preferred title to irishwildlife@iwt.ie by February 1st 2016.

Autumn ‘15 Winners: In our autumn issue we gave our readers a chance to win one of two beautiful publications: Lough Carra by Chris and Lynda Huxley, and This is the Burren by Carsten Krieger. The question we asked was: What does the acronym WFD stand for? The answer was Water Framework Directive.

The lucky winners are: Vic Sinnott from Furbo, Galway (This is the Burren) and Mary Prendergast from Dublin 6.

Congratulations to you all and thanks to all who entered!

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23/11/2015 14:02

FEATURE

COME LOOK AT THE BIRDS! Eric Dempsey, leading bird expert, professional guide, speaker, wildlife photographer and writer, reflects on childhood dreams and his passion for birds.

5Goldfinch. Photo: Eric Dempsey

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FEATURE

I

t’s a dull wet isty day as I loo out the window into our garden in ic low. here has the sun gone It is early ove ber yet the past few days have been incredibly sunny and unseasonably war . utside today in the isty dri le waves of feeding birds visit our bird feeders. oldfinches greenfinches blue tits and even sis ins are oving with di ying speed around the garden. ast night redwings were calling overhead in the dar ness adding a real feeling of winter to the air. hese were oving inland in s all groups their high pitched calls allowing the birds to stay in touch with the oc in the blac ness of the night. It was only a few wee s ago that I sat watching a willow warbler itting around the mullein just outside the window. It was pic ing s all insects from inside the yellow owers as it oved through the garden driven by a de anding instinct to eep oving south.

It will spend the winter in the forests of sub aharan frica.

In the world of birds the seasons change li e a watercolour painting there are no sharp edges. he autu n is starting to blur into winter. he garden is resplendent in ultiple shades of glorious reds and golds but the first cold winds of ove ber have

already stripped the ash trees bare. he swallow’s nest in our shed lies e pty and silent. our young swallows successfully edged fro our sheds in early ugust and within a wee had joined other swallows and house artins feeding in the fields opposite our house. hey will go even further than the warbler to spend their winter in outh frica fro ic low. y last swallow of the year was seen on October th. It was a lone young bird and was ying south over the garden. It was a late bird. s I wished it luc on its ourney I again recalled ust how uch I love the autu n. s I watch the departures of these birds, and the arrival of others I a always filled with a deep sense of admiration for them – a deep sense of wonder at the agic of the natural world.

5House sparrows. Photo: Eric Dempsey

LIFE’S JOURNEY On the table in front of me lies a copy of my new book, Don’t Die in Autumn, published, fittingly this autu n. I have written many books on birds and Ireland’s wildlife but they have all been reference type or photographic boo s. his boo is different. In any ways it is a life ourney ste ing

5Siskin. Photo: Eric Dempsey

IN THE WORLD OF BIRDS, THE SEASONS CHANGE LIKE A WATERCOLOUR PAINTING; THERE ARE NO SHARP EDGES. THE AUTUMN IS STARTING TO BLUR INTO WINTER. 5Willow warbler. Photo: Eric Dempsey

from that deep sense of wonder I a luc y to possess. It is a treasured possession. s I loo out the window I find yself being transported bac to y old house in inglas in north ublin where I was born and raised. I a no ore than two or three years old and I’ standing in the tiny old itchen of our ho e. a is peeling potatoes and is loo ing out the window. he s iles at e. ere co e loo at the birds”, she says as she sweeps e up into her ar s. he puts e standing on the old ena el itchen sin loo ing out into our bac garden. here just outside the window, is a female house sparrow with two chic s. hey are apping their wings and begging for food. oo at the a y bird feeding her baby she whispers to e. ee the baby bird apping his little wings.

It’s funny how such a long distant e ory can be so clear.

I re e ber this o ent so vividly that I so eti es doubt that it happened. ld e ories can be li e that. hey can ta e on an al ost drea li e uality. han fully y other confir s that my recollection is exactly how I re e ber it. pparently she put me down so she could continue with her tasks but I begged to be lifted bac up again. he two or three year old e was transfi ed by this urban natural wonder that was unfolding before y very eyes.

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FEATURE

watching this family of house sparrows for over an hour… the potatoes were forgotten.

Here I am now, over 50 years later, and I’m still looking out the window at the birds. I a still transfi ed by what I see each day. To say that this childhood moment, when my very enlightened mother decided that showing me birds was more important than peeling spuds, was a lifechanging moment is perhaps an understatement. It was the spark that ignited a fascination with the natural world that has stayed with me all of my life. My mother has since quipped that she regrets ever lifting me up to look at those birds. “Look at what I started!” she jokes. My brother, Paul, still wonders if I was born or if, in fact, I was hatched.

A SPARK IGNITES You see, from that moment on, I yearned to experience the natural world for myself.

Being raised in Finglas I was lucky to have the Bots (Botanic Gardens) and Glasnevein

5Swallow. Photo: Eric Dempsey

MY CHILDHOOD DREAMS WERE THAT, SOMEDAY, I WOULD SEE THE BIRDS AND ANIMALS I WAS READING ABOUT. I AM A VERY LUCKY MAN INDEED BECAUSE MANY OF MY CHILDHOOD DREAMS HAVE BEEN REALISED. FEW OF US CAN SAY THAT.

5Eric Dempsey

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Cemetery close to where we lived. Da took us down there every weekend. These green oases in a suburban jungle were my remote tundras and African plains. My own small back garden was my Serengeti and the hedge that grew along our fence, my rainforest. It was here that, as a young boy, I sat with Da sipping tea and experiencing y first dawn chorus as the birds of Finglas gradually awoke to a new day. Such

magical childhood moments are etched into my memory. I have since travelled the world and experienced many exotic dawn choruses, but none can ever atch that first in inglas.

I also clearly remember an occasion standing with my father in the Bots as we watched swallows feeding over the ponds.

He was holding me by the hand and was telling me that swallows “came all the way from Africa to come home to Ireland”.

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FEATURE

5Swallows. Photo: Eric Dempsey

That these small birds were capable of such travels and adventures further added to that childish sense of wonder.

Migration has fascinated me since that moment with Da. I have since followed swallows on their migrations from Ireland to South Africa. I have picked up exhausted swallows from the roads in Spain where birds, having faced into a head wind crossing the Mediterranean, were ust too wea to y.

I have also watched them circling and feeding on the very edge of the ahara esert mustering the courage to face out across the vast emptiness of the shimmering sand. To

witness swallows ying out into that hostile emptiness is yet another e ory etched into y ind. ow luc y am I to have experienced such things in y life ast year while sorting through so e of y late father’s belongings, I discovered a letter I had written to anty. I was ust seven years old. I as ed anty to bring me ‘lots of books’. anty duly obliged and brought ‘a lot of books’ in his sack for e. y appetite for nowledge was insatiable and I longed to travel the world to experience the natural world for yself.

We all had childhood dreams,

perhaps it was to be a train driver or an astronaut. owever y childhood drea s were that so eday I would see the birds and animals I was reading about.

I a a very luc y an indeed because any of y childhood dreams have been realised (and are still being realised). ew of us can say that. trangely enough one of those childhood dreams was to write a book. Whilst I have already done that for so e reason Don’t Die in Autumn is the kind of book I dreamed I would write one day. I wanted to capture the in uence of y wonderful parents. I

wanted to capture the Finglas of the 1960s and 70s where the delicate threads, found within the bricks and mortar of y birthplace were woven into the person I a today. I wanted to capture the days of travel where I followed y dreams and experienced so any wonderful birds. ost of all I wanted to capture the agic of y life for the birds. hen I turned years old I gave up y good secure pensionable ob to follow y passion a passion spar ed by those special words ere come look at the birds”. nd a guess what I’ still looking at the birds.

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EXPLORING WILDLIFE

NATURE’S TERMS Gordon D’Arcy reflects on a recent visit to the beautiful and untamed Yellowstone Park in Wyoming.

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hanks to the legacy of the Gaelic language our topography is replete with place na es re ecting our ancestors’ close affinity with wild nature. Every existing mountain, island, bogland or watercourse carries an ancient name and many a woodland and wetland, long vanished under the expediency of the axe and drainage channel, retain ghostly connections in place names which often seem no longer relevant.

Ireland, of course, is not alone in this – aboriginal populations the world over echo this topographical intimacy, often in a religious context. North American tribes left their legacy in starkly vivid place names such as Little Bighorn, Crooked Bear Mountain and Snake River, which suggest an underlying significance nowadays lost in translation. The 19th century pioneers who opened up the American west brought with them many European landscape terms; bluff, butte, creek, gulch, canyon, prairie, replacing the tribal lexicon.

TRUE WILDERNESS Wyoming’s Yellowstone Park, from which I have recently returned, is a cornucopia of bluffs, buttes, canyons and creeks. Its forests and prairies cover 2.2 million acres (about the size of Cork and Kerry combined).

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Completely devoid of habitations other than a few ranger outposts and visitor centres it definitely subscribes to that uch overused term ‘wilderness’. The planet owes a great debt of gratitude to the US Congress which, under President Teddy Roosevelt’s direction, had the vision to set it aside as the world’s first national par in 1872. Attracting more than three million visitors every summer the park is served by a modest infrastructure – a loop road and a number of pull-ins and a network of trails for hikers which do little to impinge on the intrinsic wildness.

In Yellowstone one is immediately aware that it is primarily occupied by wildlife.

Squirrels and chipmunks appear at the feet, deer wander casually in the glades and bigger, dangerous mammals like bison occupy the open land in herds or wander across the road like Connemara sheep.

Mega deer such as elk and moose lurk in the forest edge and bears – both black and grizzly – appear often when least expected.

Warnings about the dangers posed by the large fauna are everywhere. Bears represent the greatest threat, unwary hikers being occasionally attacked by females with young.

A walk in Yellowstone’s woods is invariably a frisson-fraught experience no matter how well prepared or wary one is: there is nothing tame about the place.

5Trout Lake, Yellowstone National Park, USA.

Photo: Always Shooting/Flickr

5An American bison roams

free in Yellowstone. Photo: Jeremy Michael/Flickrv

Most of the centre of Yellowstone is occupied by the subterranean caldera of a colossal volcano. Rangers, however, are at pains to point out that, despite recent sinister rumblings, there is no evidence to suggest that a blow out is imminent.

The peripheral manifestation is one of the wonders of the place, the world’s largest concentration of geysers, hot springs, mudpots and fumaroles. Despite the manner

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EXPLORING WILDLIFE

5The Snake River, a major river of the greater

Pacific Northwest. Photo: Amy Ross/Flickr

in which it has been organised for the safety of its millions of visitors – boardwalks, warning signs, vigilant guides etc – a walk through this extraordinary geological complex is a surreal experience. People gather in clusters awaiting the periodic dramatic spouting of scalding water from Old Faithful. The names of the geysers (actually an Icelandic word), Old Faithful, Great Fountain, Grand Prismatic, Firehole,

re ect the superficiality of odern touris one is left wondering about what the native Americans called them, indeed, in the absence of scientific nowledge what they made of them.

The northern regions of Yellowstone are graced with the most beautifully expansive buffalo and sagebrush grasslands, a representative fraction of the vast midwestern prairies. Here, bison, elk and

pronghorn antelopes wander freely while coyotes, black and grizzly bears forage along the forest edge. The region’s celebrities are a pack of wolves which, occupying the forest by day, venture out into the prairie’s edge in search of hoofed prey. A cohort of wolf watchers, anxious to catch a long-distance view of the famous canids, habitually set up their telescopes and long lens cameras each evening in the Lamar Valley. Even they, at the roadside, must be aware of the threats posed by the bears.

Having been captivated now by the magic of 20 US National Parks I believe that the term ‘park’ with its connotation of boundedness and control is inappropriate for these great untamed places. I am reminded of how little they have changed since they were established as representative examples of the wild west, extolled by 19th century artists, photographers and writers such as Laura Ingalls Wilder whose Little House on the Prairie continues to enchant generation after generation of young readers. For ‘park’ therefore read ‘wilderland’. We have long lost our own wilderlands though, thanks to our legacy of place names, not without trace.

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19/11/2015 11:54

WINTER FOCUS

DECLINING FORTUNES Billy Flynn on the fate of Ireland and the UK’s wild birds.

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t’s always tempting to think that things were better when you were young. Your memories of summer are always lit by bright sunshine and you were wearing shorts (with none of the self-consciousness of your older you).

Things were cheaper, it was a safer place to be a child.

Examined closely, we probably all accept that this just isn’t so, but we like to think of things that way. However, the release of a report by the UK Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) shows that things have indeed become worse, at least for the UK’s wild bird populations. A long-term study released in October 2015 details alarming declines in most groups of birds under study, including farmland and seabirds.

GRIM READING I don’t remember much about birds when I was a child. Wood pigeons in Aughrim, County Wicklow, my mum pointing out gannets off the Cork coast and a buzzard seen at surprisingly close quarters in Monaghan. I certainly had no inkling of how much worse things were getting and indeed about to become for the wild bird populations of our nearest neighbours.

The title of this report, Wild Bird Populations, caught the author’s eye not so much for the fact that it’s about wild birds but the dates of the survey – 1970 to 2014 – covering all of the years that this author has been on the planet, bar the last that is now drawing to a close.

How often does one get to read the results of a survey that extends over one’s lifetime? Unfortunately, it’s not very cheerful reading.

This long-term study is a unique look at trends in the populations of five groups of the ’s wild birds far land woodland water and wetland and seabirds. An overview of all of the groups was also carried out – an All-Species Index. Populations under study were attributed an index of 100 at the outset of the study. Their populations thereafter are expressed as a percentage of this baseline population. The headline results are sobering. The All-Species in the UK for 2014 was nine per cent below its 1970 level. Farmland birds appear to have fared the worst; the index for breeding populations in this habitat type was less than half of that in 1970 (a 54 per cent decline). The Breeding Woodland Bird index was 20 per cent lower last year than when the study started 44 years ago. For breeding water and wetland birds, a decline of 15 per cent was recorded.

The bad news extends to seabirds too, with the index 27 per cent 24

lower than its (later) start date in 1986. The one increase was among wintering waterbird populations, the index of which was almost double its starting point in the first survey in the winter of .

AT THE ROOT The substantial declines in farmland populations have, the report states, “many known and potential causes”. Some of these will be very familiar to us. The move away from hay to silage production has been much discussed here. The demise of the corncrake throughout almost all of Ireland has been our cheerless barometer of the changes this has wrought. In the UK, the move from spring to autumn sowing of crops has no doubt been of great significance. oss of hedgerows and intensification of farming practices in the 1970s and 1980s coincide with the greatest declines. The so-called specialist species have suffered the worst, with the grey partridge and tree sparrow declining by more than 90 per cent over the period. Generalists such as jackdaw and wood pigeon doubled their numbers during this time,

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WINTER FOCUS

5 Red kite. Photo: Karol Waszkiewicz

better weathering the changes from mixed to intensive farming.

Breeding wetland bird declines also have easily attributable causes – habitat loss being chief among these. The drainage of lands for agricultural or development use have left only fragmented habitat areas that are more vulnerable to further habitat loss, damage or change and less capable of weathering pressures such as predation or climate change. Habitat pressures on woodlands are also considered a likely explanation for the decline in native birds here. Increased browsing by non-native deer species are thought to be among these. Reduction in the quality of woodland habitat rather than the overall habitat area is probably relevant here.

The seabird index included 13 species of birds. Only two species (the common guillemot and razorbill) have increased since the beginning of the index in 1986. Three have decreased and the remainder are unchanged. The report’s authors describe difficulties in establishing reliable trends for seabirds citing insufficient data for uch of the .

Even the one habitat type where increases in indices were recorded

gives some cause for concern. Wintering wetland birds have an index of almost double that of the 1975-76 winter. However, in the short-term (between 2007 and 2013) the percentage of species that have shown population increases has fallen to 30 per cent and 41 per cent of species have seen declines in these recent years.

It would probably be fair to say that many of the man-made reasons for declines were actions carried out in ignorance of their long-term impacts. It’s also worth noting that nearly all the pesticides in common use in the 1970s and early 1980s are no longer on the market. It should also be noted that modern farming has in-built structures to rehabilitate, enhance and create valuable habitat areas. But we no longer have the excuse of ignorance. he figures describe the conse uences of our actions baldly. It’s now up us to set the standard for the next 44 years, whether we might be around to see the results or not.

One thing about birds from my childhood that I do remember is the sound of the curlew. It was so familiar then that I don’t think I would have even bothered looking up. I would now, though.

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19/11/2015 11:56

FIELD REPORT

NOT TOO LATE FOR THE

FARMERS’ FRIEND

By John Lusby, Raptor Conservation Officer, BirdWatch Ireland.

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espite being one of our rarer birds, the barn owl is also one of our best known.

Few have witnessed this ghostly form oating silently over their hunting grounds in the dead of night, but perhaps it is this elusiveness and mystery that has given rise to its popularity. Their dark, soul-piercing eyes, bloodcurdling screech and otherworldly appeal have linked them to our folklore, and a unique reverence for barn owls in Ireland remains strong to this day.

5Barn owl in ash tree nest. Photo: Mike Brown

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Sadly, sightings of this iconic bird have become increasingly rare in many parts of the modern Irish countryside. However, their conservation status provides little cause for optimism; as a Red-listed Bird of Conservation Concern in Ireland, and with recorded breeding range declines of 39 per cent over the past 40 years, their future see s blea . owever the findings of monitoring work through BirdWatch Ireland are providing glimmers of hope, and the goodwill which exists towards the ‘farmers’ friend’ is now being transferred into positive conservation action.

BARN OWL STATUS Like many farmland birds in Ireland, the changing agricultural landscape has resulted in dwindling resources available to barn owls. The population reduction is further confir ed by the loss of per cent of barn owl sites monitored between 1995 and 2013. Although rare, barn owls are still widespread and breed in every county.

But there is good news – the 2015 season was by far the best on record, which even included the first ever brood of si owlets recorded through the project! BirdWatch Ireland registered 158 sites in 2015, which is the highest recorded. The national population is estimated at approximately 400-500 pairs, however the distribution varies considerably. In 2015, over half of known sites were in Munster, and Kerry in particular appears to be an important source for the national population.

Barn owls will readily take up residence in churches, as well as a range of other ruined buildings of which castles, ruined mansions and derelict farmhouses are the most common. It was previously suspected that the loss or lack of nest sites was a contributing factor to the barn owl decline in Ireland, as has been shown in other countries, however extensive survey work has confir ed a high availability of suitable buildings throughout the Irish countryside. arn owl diet varies significantly throughout the country. The bank vole is the main prey item across much of the south-west, the greater white-toothed shrew dominates the diet in Tipperary and parts of Limerick, while the wood mouse is typically the most important element of their diet elsewhere.

The barn owl’s diet has consequences due to their risk of exposure to rat poisons.

Modern rodenticides, although effective in the necessary control of rats and mice,

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FIELD REPORT

//BARN OWLS WILL READILY TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN CHURCHES, AS WELL AS A RANGE OF OTHER RUINED BUILDINGS OF WHICH CASTLES, RUINED MANSIONS AND DERELICT FARMHOUSES ARE THE MOST COMMON.//

5Barn owl hunting. Photo: RSPB images

are extremely toxic and can also affect a range of other wildlife. Barn owls can be exposed to rodenticides by feeding on rodents which previously consumed the poison baits, and recent research revealed that over 85 per cent of Irish barn owls tested had detectable traces of rodenticide compounds in their livers. To reduce the risk of secondary poisoning to barn owls and other rodent predators, the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use has been established in Ireland to increase awareness of the risks that arise and to promote best practice in rodent control (www.thinkwildlife.org).

IMPACTS ON BARN OWL POPULATIONS Several European studies have linked the increase in major road networks to a decline in barn owl populations. Due to their hunting behaviour low ight and poor peripheral vision, barn owls are especially vulnerable to collision. From 2006 to 2014, 279 barn owl mortality incidents were recorded in Ireland, of which 64 per cent were vehicle collision victims. In 2016 a research initiative coordinated by Transport Infrastructure Ireland and BirdWatch Ireland will aim to effectively determine the extent and impacts of major roads on barn owls, and if relevant based on the outcomes, develop appropriate mitigation for existing and future road developments.

In addition to extensive monitoring, daily road casualty surveys will be carried out on selected sections of motorways and

5John Lusby of BirdWatch Ireland carrying

out routine monitoring work.

adult birds will be fitted with specialised GPS tags to determine their interactions and potential use of major roads.

In 2015, BirdWatch Ireland’s barn owl monitoring and conservation work was supported by Dublin Zoo, The Heritage Council, Galway County

Council, Kerry County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. For further information on barn owls and to download an information booklet visit www.irishraptors.blogspot.ie.

Information on barn owls can be reported to jlusby@birdwatchireland.ie.

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19/11/2015 11:59

MEMBERS’ LETTERS

OVER TO YOU Summer arrived in autumn to many parts of Ireland and we’ve been receiving reports of newts and redstarts out and about in November – species that should have hibernated or migrated weeks ago. We love to hear your stories or answer your questions on all things wildlife related, so do please keep them coming.

dlifeTrust/

www.facebook.com/IrishWil

on Lakes, Co Armagh “I took this image at Craigav ipment I use for my on 16th October 2015. The equ on 7D Mark II and a wildlife photography is a Can ays shoot handheld Canon 400mm L f5.6 lens. I alw ther permits and I on manual. Whenever the wea stop at this location have a bit of free time I would ect my children from for about an hour before I coll shers in this area on school. I have observed kingfi e noted that they a number of occasions and hav etimes fly past som fish in a certain pond area and al spot to get some low across the lake. It is an ide kingfishers takes a lot of flight shots. Photographing ng the lake and listening patience. Whilst I was scanni noticed a wren in the for their distinctive call I had nged my shutter speed hedgerow close by. I had cha a shot of the wren when down to 1/800 to try and get r. I looked over the I heard the call of the kingfishe flying low from right to lake and saw the kingfisher shots of the kingfisher left. I focused and took some need a shutter speed flying past. Normally I would t shots due to their of approx 1/3200 to get fligh action allowed me to speed. Happily, my panning kingfisher in flight.” get a fairly good shot of the

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Congratulations to MICHAEL NORTON from Armagh who won our Facebook photo of the month competition in October for this amazing shot of a kingfisher.

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MEMBERS’ LETTERS

ALIEN LITTERBUG ALERT Hi IWT, I was fishing near Carrickmacross in Monaghan and this mink looked like it was waiting for us to go so it could get into the bin – there was litter pulled out all over the place. It was a fast little thing but great to see a trail of bubbles as it swam underwater, similar to an otter.

Regards, Johnny Woodlock, Skerries

BRING ME THE BILL! Hi IWT, I had heard this spoonbill was frequenting Clogheen marsh just outside Clonakilty, West Cork on the 22nd of October but was unable to get down there until the 24th for a look at this beauty.

A rare but welcome visitor to our shores, here are a few photos I was lucky to get, as when I arrived at the marsh I thought I would only get a distant view through my binoculars. But there it was feeding quite happily only 7m from the road. Grabbed my camera and I must have taken 100 photos or more, couldn’t believe my luck! Just watched it for another while and went on my way (looking for more migrants). Birdwatching in West Cork... a great way to spend a Saturday.

Regards, Dave McGrath

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

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23/11/2015 14:05

IN THE FRAME

2015 IN PICTURES A recap of events, news and photography during 2015, featured in Irish Wildlife magazine...

2. PINK GRASSHOPPER Cover image for the summer 2015 edition of Irish Wildlife magazine. Photo by Chris Connolly, which secured the Ireland National Award in the 2015 Sony World Photography Awards.

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1. PEACOCK BUTTERFLY Cover image for Irish Wildlife magazine’s autmn 2015 issue, which also featured in an article on the evolution of selfpreservation among insects.

Photo credit: Mike Brown.

3. SQUIRREL SURVEY The Red Squirrel Group took up the red squirrel and pine marten challenge in the Ring of Gullion and Cooley area over spring. Photo credit: Noel Marry.

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4. BRANCH FOCUS A number of swans were found dead and injured at Bailieborough Town Lake in May and an autopsy found they died from strangulation from fishing line and hooks. A call of action was sent out and every metre of the lake was combed until all traces of fishing equipment were recovered.

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5. MAMMAL MAPPING

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Spring’s Field Report described changes in the distribution of mammal species and how this is being documented as part of the Atlas of Mammals in Ireland project, which has been running since 2010. Photo: Bank vole by Claire Spelling via Flickr.

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IN THE FRAME

11. GULL HYSTERIA Autumn’s Wild Ideas feature combatted the hysteriainducing headlines about the natural world, including tales of seagulls savaging sheep in the depths of Kerry!

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9 6. TAINTED TROPHIES Autumn Focus discussed the contentious issue of trophy hunting, and the now famous Cecil the Lion.

7. BELOW THE WAVES Summer’s Field Report described the need to protect the Earth’s deepwater habitats. Photo: © Greenpeace International.

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9. SKY DANCERS Hen harriers were the topic of our Spring Feature.

Photo credit: Mike Brown.

10. POISONED EAGLE 8. FOX 7

Our Spring 2015 cover image.

Photo credit: Mario MacRory.

The poisoning of a six-yearold female white-tailed sea eagle, discovered dead at her nesting site in Connemara, opened summer’s Conservation News. Photo credit: Valerie O’Sullivan.

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ON LOCATION

DUBLIN BAY’S BIOSPHERE Jenni Roche, coordinator of the Dublin Bay UNESCO biosphere, on Dublin Bay’s elevation to biosphere status.

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n June 24th last, Dublin Bay was awarded biosphere status by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, cientific and ultural rganisation. iospheres are internationally recognised for their biodiversity yet also actively anage to pro ote a balanced relationship between people and nature. hey ai to pro ote conservation learning and sustainable develop ent. states that biospheres are places for testing approaches to understanding and anaging changes and interactions between social and ecological syste s including con ict prevention and biodiversity anage ent. ublin ay is now part of a global networ of biospheres in countries. orth ull Island was originally designated as a biosphere in in recognition of its superb diversity of

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internationally important habitats and species. owever the biosphere concept has since evolved to incorporate larger areas as well as the co unities living and wor ing within the . ollowing a review co pleted in it was agreed that an application would be submitted to UNESCO to expand the biosphere to cover the ecosystem of Dublin Bay, and from this the Dublin Bay Biosphere artnership was for ed. his partnership includes Dublin City Council, Dublin Port o pany n aoghaire athdown and ingal ounty ouncils and the ational ar s ildlife ervice. It also wor s with co unity groups non govern ental organisations local businesses and schools. he biosphere designation brings no new regulations its ai s are achieved by people wor ing together. any organisations and individuals are already underta ing i portant wor in ublin ay. he Biosphere Partnership aims to improve

the level of communication between them and to increase the availability of scientific infor ation about the bay as well as developing new initiatives in the areas of conservation, education, research and sustainable develop ent. conservation progra e research strategy and business develop ent plan will be developed for the biosphere, and will be made available for consultation via the website below. egular events are organised as part of a biosphere education and awareness progra e. lease visit the Dublin Bay Biosphere website or social edia profiles for further infor ation.

Website: www.dublinbaybiosphere.ie Facebook: www.facebook.com/ dublinbaybiosphere Twitter: www.twitter.com/dublinbiosphere

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19/11/2015 12:01

Help support Irish wildlife this Christmas by giving the gift of membership... … perfect for the nature lover in your life!

Gift members receive all the benefits of being an IWT member, including our quarterly ‘Irish Wildlife’ magazine, plus a Christmas card for you to present to them.

Or why not consider a family or junior membership gift, which includes quarterly copies of the IWT’s ‘Badger Club’ kids’ magazine, featuring a fold-out wall poster!

GIFT

IDEA

For Christmas gift ideas visit: www.iwt.ie/shop Or make a gift donation to the IWT. We will send you a certificate of your donation to send to your family member or friend.

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