Whats Happening to Lickeen Lake?

thomur

Im living near Lickeen Lake between Ennistymon and Kilfenora. The swans and ducks have disappeared in the last 3 years. Is it hunting or natural. Should I buy some ducks to bring it back to normal

locum-motion

Hunting should have no effect on swan populations, as you're not allowed to hunt them.

If you're interested in helping to manage duck populations, then feeding, providing nesting boxes, and vermin control are what's required. The NARCG might be able to advise, or perhaps The Game Conservancy or the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the UK.

Jim Martin

The 1st thing to ask is what's the state of the water there? Is there any life in it apart from algal blooms (fishes, frogs, dragonfly larva etc, as these are good indicators of a healthy aquatic environment)?

Has it been contaminated by the dreaded slurry, herbicides & artificial fertiliser like most places?

thomur

Thanks for the responses folks. I haven't noticed anything unusual re the water quality. The fish seem to be ok, and no algal blooms that I have seen. Seems to be a few raptors around, have seen sparrow hawks lately and had never seen them in the area before. Will follow up re the links

Birdnuts

Invasive Mink have wiped out wildfowl populations on many water bodies in this country, both large and small. They are very hard to spot as they are small, skulk about and are most active at night. If you can get your hands on some mink traps all the better.

blowin3

The Poles like swan. I remember them being caught in Ennis poaching them. Maybe dig a few man traps and check in the morning

pilate 1

blowin3 wrote: »

The Poles like swan. I remember them being caught in Ennis poaching them. Maybe dig a few man traps and check in the morning

cant see the humour in that tbh. lucky you didn,t blame blow ins or travelers;)

Kess73

thomur wrote: »

Thanks for the responses folks. I haven't noticed anything unusual re the water quality. The fish seem to be ok, and no algal blooms that I have seen. Seems to be a few raptors around, have seen sparrow hawks lately and had never seen them in the area before. Will follow up re the links

Sparrowhawks will have no impact whatsoever on the swans and ducks.

A male sparrowhawk will generally go after a bird no bigger than a blaclbird (on occasion he may go up as far as collared dove size), but his usual prey will be birds in and around the size of housesparrows, great tits, robins etc.

A female sparrowhawk is much larger than the male, but she usually tops out at feral pigeon size in terms of max prey size.

Mink or humans are the most likely cause.

Mink will decimate an area very quickly, and say goodbye to any birds in an area if mink can get to them. Mink will also decimate fish populations, small mammal populations, and domestic poultry etc.


Humans are also a good bet as a number of the lakes in Clare have had bird and/or fish populations nearly wiped out by people. There have been a few of the smaller tench lakes that are now pretty much tench free, and other fish species have gotten the same treatment. Ducks and swans have also suffered at the hands of people. Sometimes for eating purposes, sometimes just outright cruelty but the end result is still the same.

blowin3

Thank you Kess73. I saw them on the river Fergus (maybe 9 years ago) in a small boat trying to catch duck and Swan. Best of luck with a swan I would not fancy my chances with a angry Swan. I can't remember if any one was charged .