National bird of Ireland. Mulitple choice Poll added

marlin vs

What do you think should be the national bird of Ireland,as it look's like we haven't got an official one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_birds

trebor28

we could go with the unofficial wren that is listed there, but i would prefer a more "exotic" bird.

a bullfinch would be nice, and no other country has it listed.

the kestrel would be another choice of mine, even though it is down as belgiums.

Mothman

There is reference to Lapwing

And its mentioned in a wikipedia link

Feargal as Luimneach

Ireland hold internationally important numbers of Roseate tern (majority of European population:D), Greenland whitefronted goose (roughly half the world's wintering population) and Corncrake. For that reason it should be a bird like one of these three gems



Geabhróg rósach


Traonach


Gé bhánéadanach

Scotty #

What should the criteria be? native obviously, anything else?

I actually thought the Corncrake was the national bird already.

No idea what I would choose.....

Kingfisher maybe, or Goldcrest? Hard to think of a typically 'Irish' bird... Andrea Corr?

mathepac

Robin

or Mary Robinson (a descendant I think )

Birdnuts

I think the Curlew would tick many boxes:)

meathstevie

The only birds someone will see on a quick tour through Ireland are crows and magpies...

cuddlycavies

The Goldaen Eagle. Because it dissapeared pretty much around the time we won our sovereignty and began breeding again just before we lost it.

IceMaiden

I think it should be the Woodcock or Snipe both of them along with other Animals used to be on Irish coins, unfortunately at the point of changing over to the Euro all such things have been removed & possibly never to return. I think they were all part of the Irish identity part of not only what the country was known for but also with the Horse/Greyhound/Wren/Fish, part of what much was built on from the foundations.

cameramonkey

Préachán Cosdearg. the chough. I would like it to be our national bird. hangs out in the west beside the sea, nice life.

or an fuipín the puffin a real beautiful bird.

The Hill Billy

Dare I suggest the good ol' pigeon as we are continually being crapped on these days?

Rainbowsend

Jeepers Hill Billy that looks premeditated

cuddlycavies

Dustin the Turkey perhaps?

Judgement Day

Perhaps the Dodo might be the most suitable bird for our extinct economy country?

Manach

The king of all birds, the Wren of course.

tyler71

I'd have to go for the heron. I'm lucky enough where I live to see them regularly when out walking but every time I see one I have to stop and watch them, they're so graceful.

wagtail99

+1 on the the heron, I think it is good that it is a bird that is seen throughout the country (ie not just a coastal species). Also maybe the Dipper.
The Lapwing, Curlew and Chough (BTW there is a population of Choughs in Co. Waterford, so not only a western bird as prev poster suggested), are also good suggestions.

Mothman

wagtail99 wrote: »

Also maybe the Dipper.
The Lapwing, Curlew and Chough

Bout time Dipper was mentioned and I think Chough is a worthy candidate.

I may set up a poll once reasonable suggestions dry up.

Edit, I think I can even add a poll to this thread....

1squidge

If we are looking for a bird that represents Ireland then it has too be the Cuckoo.;)

marlin vs

1squidge wrote: »

If we are looking for a bird that represents Ireland then it has too be the Cuckoo.;)

Has to be the best answer yet.

Mothman

I'm keen on trying out a poll here, but we've about 20 suggestions so far. This is too many for a single poll. I propose doing it in 2 polls.
Purpose of first poll is to pick shortlist for the definitive poll. This first poll will list all suggestions up to a max of 25. Making it multiple choice. I suggest we carry forward about 5 birds to the final poll. The 5 I would not set in stone in the case of say 6 or 7 front runners or perhaps just 4.

How does this sound?

marlin vs

Mothman if you'r keen go ahead it would be very interesting, and won't do any harm, and i'm keen on seeing the result's.

bogtreader

We seen a pair of choughs on the saltees in the summer.
It seems so long ago now

Mothman

Suggestions so far

Wren
Bullfinch
Kestrel
Lapwing
Roseate tern
Greenland whitefronted goose
Corncrake
Kingfisher
Goldcrest
Robin
Curlew
Goldaen Eagle
Woodcock
Snipe
Chough
Heron
Dipper
Cuckoo

I'd like to add Blackbird, common with a distinctive alarm call that seems to be such a feature of the countryside in my area.

I'll set up poll over weekend with the above list plus other suggestions up to a max of 25. the poll will be to come up with a short list for a final poll.

Roen

And evening full of the Linnet's wings.....

spyderski

Has to be either the Curlew or Corncrake - what bird was on the old 50p Piece?

mathepac

Roen wrote: »

And evening full of the Linnet's wings.....

OK Mothman, great idea thanks. I've added all the names suggested so far and sorted them alphabetically, to give us this list of 20 :

Blackbird
Bullfinch
Chough
Corncrake
Cuckoo
Curlew
Dipper
Goldcrest
Golden Eagle
Greenland Whitefronted Goose
Heron
Kestrel
Kingfisher
Lapwing
Linnet
Robin
Roseate Tern
Snipe
Woodcock
Wren

wagtail99

spyderski wrote: »

Has to be either the Curlew or Corncrake - what bird was on the old 50p Piece?

I always thought it was some gull/seabird, but a couple of years ago I was talking to a guy who wrote some poetry based on the old coins and he told me it was a woodcock.

Mothman

mathepac wrote: »

OK Mothman, great idea thanks. I've added all the names suggested so far and sorted them alphabetically, to give us this list of 20 :

Blackbird
Bullfinch
Chough
Corncrake
Cuckoo
Curlew
Dipper
Goldcrest
Golden Eagle
Greenland Whitefronted Goose
Heron
Kestrel
Kingfisher
Lapwing
Linnet
Robin
Roseate Tern
Snipe
Woodcock
Wren

Great

Anyone care to add the Irish names to this list?
I'll do it for the short list.

Already a few mentioned in the thread.

littlebug

Blackbird (Londubh)
Bullfinch (Corcrán Coille)
Chough (Cág Cosdearg or Préachán Cosdearg)
Corncrake (Traonach)
Cuckoo (Cuach)
Curlew (Crotach)
Dipper (Gabha Dubh)
Goldcrest (Cíorbhuí)
Golden Eagle(Iolar [eagle], Fiolar Fíréan [True Eagle.]; Iolar Buidhe[yellow eagle] )
Greenland whitefronted goose (Gé Bhánéadanach)
Heron (Corr Réisc)
Kestrel (Pocaire Gaoithe)
Kingfisher (Cruidín)
Lapwing (Pilibín)
Robin (Spideog)
Roseate tern (Geabhróg Rósach)
Snipe (Naoscach)
Woodcock (Creabhar)
Wren (Dreoilín)


Irish translations taken from http://gofree.indigo.ie/~cocaomh/English-Irish%20Dictionary.htm

mathepac

Blackbird (Londubh)
Bullfinch (Corcrán Coille)
Chough (Cág Cosdearg or Préachán Cosdearg)
Corncrake (Traonach)
Cuckoo (Cuach)
Curlew (Crotach)
Dipper (Gabha Dubh)
Goldcrest (Cíorbhuí)
Golden Eagle(Iolar [eagle], Fiolar Fíréan [True Eagle.]; Iolar Buidhe[yellow eagle] )
Greenland Whitefronted Goose (Gé Bhánéadanach)
Heron (Corr Réisc)
Kestrel (Pocaire Gaoithe)
Kingfisher (Cruidín)
Lapwing (Pilibín)
Linnet (Gleoiseach)
Robin (Spideog)
Roseate tern (Geabhróg Rósach)
Snipe (Naoscach)
Woodcock (Creabhar)
Wren (Dreoilín)

I added "Linnet" back into the list with translation

Mothman

I've added poll.
Multiple choice
Open for a week.

I don't know if you can edit your choice.

Top 5 or so will go towards the final single choice poll.

mathepac

And as the polls open it's 50:50 between my choice and A.N. Other - and now back to Ryan Turbidity in the election studio ...

marlin vs

Have to say I love the call of the Curlew in the night time as they cross over my home.

The curlew bird’s call
more a wounded cry
than the chirp and whistle
of much prettier birds

calls from dry land steppes
between river shore wading
and in the shallows feeding
so unlike other water birds

steps from its nest
nestled near the bunch grass and sage
exposing its mottled eggs
in their shallow sand and gravely grave.

Nest now in danger,
parent bird feigns wounded wing
limps away from fragile treasure
a selfless sacrifice to its predator.

Dangerous conqueror consumes
bulldozer and grader works
bunch grass, sage, and nest
a sacrifice to larger human nests.

Consumed by tread and steel
conquered bird rounds the sky
sending out the wounded cry
of the curlew bird’s call.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t14YfXXXmvo&feature=related

Mothman

The votes are quite evenly spread. A bit premature to see trends.

googsy

Dammit... if I registered a bit earlier I would have suggested the Barn Owl (Scréachóg reilige) All good choices though...

Mothman

The votes are drying up.
The 5 front runnersflyers at moment
Wren
Robin
Heron
Curlew
Corncrake

newmug

What about the sparrow, swallow, thrush or pidgeon? (Somebody has to defend them:o)

And what constitutes an Irish bird? Does it have to be a stay-at-home bird or can it migrate? Can it be introduced or does it have to be native?

I would have said phesant. Its the bird most seen and most handled in my neck of the woods.

Although I suppose an Irish national bird would need to have some connection to Irish mythology. I think the Irish national fish should be the salmon, after the salmon of knowledge, and the national animal should be a bull or cow, after the brown bull of Cooley, and the whole agricultural culture of Ireland. (And the Bo Fhionn, Boyne, the white cow)

Feargal as Luimneach

marlin vs wrote: »

Have to say I love the call of the Curlew in the night time as they cross over my home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t14YfXXXmvo&feature=related

I've never heard/seen the bird in that video in Ireland ever

marlin vs

Nearest video I could find.

1squidge

May I add that the Robin is also the unofficial bird of England so I personally would want a national bird that represents Ireland and not a few different countries.

Mothman

I neglected to add a link to final poll which has another 9 days to go.
The top five in the above poll were carried forward.