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Nature in the News

1235749

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 466 ✭✭cd07


    I have no problem with hunting/shooting whatsoever Im a big fan of most country sports ie shooting,fishing and falconry and I really believe anyone truly interested in these pastimes would never knowingly kill a bird of prey. I feel a lot of problems start when gun licences are obtained through farming, and Im not for one minute suggesting all farmers would harm birds of prey but I suspect a few with sheep relying on hearsay about Buzzards, Eagles and Kites would have no problem shooting them. These birds are only in the past few years becoming a common sight again around the country and I believe many people believe in the old folklore about these birds as in killing lambs or hens etc. Education is the only way forward in my opinion.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,069 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/eagles-earn-their-wings-but-threats-remain-238319.html

    More Golden Eagles have bred successfully, though their population still needs all the luck it can get!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,067 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    dusty the dolphin in clare is getting rowdy


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,992 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    fryup wrote: »
    dusty the dolphin in clare is getting rowdy
    That dolphin is a salting people all over the plaice.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,067 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    some people just don't know how to behave whilst with a dolphin, they're not a pet they're a wild animal



  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,069 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    fryup wrote: »
    dusty the dolphin in clare is getting rowdy

    "Idiot gets whats coming to her" would've been an equaly valid headline!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Why I love Nature. It never stops surprising
    Friday 04 October 2013
    A British ornithologist and his team have discovered a completely new species of owl while on a research expedition in Oman.
    The bird, previously unknown to science, is slightly bigger than a tawny owl and has been named the Omani Owl.
    It was first spotted in a remote mountainous region of the Middle Eastern country while sound-recordist and author Magnus Robb, 43, formerly from Edinburgh, was studying another species in March.
    Mr Robb said he and his team were recording the Arabian owl, which he knows well, when he noticed “faint owl-like hooting in the background with a rhythm I had never heard before”.
    The expert was so struck by the sound that he immediately phoned a colleague and said: “I think I’ve just discovered a new species of owl.”
    “My colleague Rene Pop and I tried in vain to find the mystery bird again the next night, but it was only on the last night of our trip that we heard it again,” Mr Robb said. “We had to leave for the airport with the unseen owl hooting up on a cliff.”
    He returned a month later, accompanied by colleague Arnoud B van den Berg.
    Mr Robb said: “Tracking it down again wasn't easy. This owl inhabits vertical terrain and its voice is difficult to hear. Worse still, in April the bird was virtually silent. Eventually we heard one. What a relief to actually glimpse it perched on a rock, confirming that this was indeed an owl and looked like nothing we had seen before.”
    Over the course of the next months the team made another two research trips to look for new specimens, gather photographs and sound recordings, and observe the owls’ behaviour.
    After critical analysis, they concluded this was indeed a new owl for science, and the first bird species to be discovered in Arabia for 77 years.
    Details of its discovery were published today in the ornithological journal Dutch Birding.
    Mr Robb’s work is part of an international project called the Sound Approach, which aims to catalogue bird sounds with a view to better understanding them.
    And he told the BBC that he and his colleagues had undertaken such rapid and extensive study of the Omani Owl so that it could be made a candidate for conservation projects as soon as possible.
    “One of the reasons we've gone through this process of describing and confirming this as a new species so quickly is to get conservation for this owl as soon as possible,“ he said.
    “Conservation can only start when this species is accepted and given some official status.”
    He said he wants to return to Oman later this year to discover more about the owl, its habitat and its behaviour.
    So far, he and and his colleagues have found only seven of the birds in a single wadi in the remote, mountainous area of the country which, he said, “suggests that it’s a very rare creature indeed”.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,171 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    aren't owls one of the most common 'new species' groups, given their nocturnal nature? i think i may blame my understanding of that on QI...


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    I think we all knew we weren't that different to other primates.
    http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24566083


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,934 ✭✭✭robp


    I think we all knew we weren't that different to other primates.
    http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24566083

    To an extent but it is often overstated. I mean we are often told that chimpanzees are in genetic terms 97% the same as humans but this is a misleading statement as it doesn't really account for the level of difference we see. There is much more then just the DNA sequences, differences may be concentrated in areas like gene regulation.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    robp wrote: »
    To an extent but it is often overstated. I mean we are often told that chimpanzees are in genetic terms 97% the same as humans but this is a misleading statement as it doesn't really account for the level of difference we see. There is much more then just the DNA sequences, differences may be concentrated in areas like gene regulation.

    A. My comment was tongue in cheek. I wasn't saying we are alike genetically.
    B. The piece is not about DNA - a particular study of mine several years ago, most of which his now forgotten.
    C. This was about conversational etiquette.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,069 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    34,000 Brent Geese arrive in Ireland, but where are all the youngsters??

    A pretty disastrous breeding season for Brent Geese this year - not sure if it gives a figure in that article, but I heard the number of juveniles are in single figures! Luckily they're a species that's been doing well in recent years, but at the same time another breeding season like this in the next couple of years could be fairly serious.

    Edit: Another link from the Irish Brent Goose blog


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 328 ✭✭mgwhelan


    Do pine marten's kill mink, l have never seen a mink around these parts (slieve blooms) but I'v seen pine marten's a dozen times or so. I know the fact that I never seen mink doesn't mean there not around, just be great if they removed mink from an area as well as grey squirrels.


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  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,171 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    i was talking to someone from the grey partridge trust who was saying that while they had no empirical evidence to lean on, there was a feeling that resurging pine marten numbers were helping suppress mink numbers. may have just been wishful thinking...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,878 ✭✭✭whyulittle




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,204 ✭✭✭dodderangler


    mgwhelan wrote: »
    Do pine marten's kill mink, l have never seen a mink around these parts (slieve blooms) but I'v seen pine marten's a dozen times or so. I know the fact that I never seen mink doesn't mean there not around, just be great if they removed mink from an area as well as grey squirrels.

    They are bigger but I don't know if their as aggressive as mink. Mink are known for their aggression and ability to tackle prey a lot bigger than themselves.
    Seen a vid on YouTube of a mink taking a swan out.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    I don't think there has been any evidence to date of Pine Marten preying on Mink. Prey that are likely to fight back are not common for many predators.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,204 ✭✭✭dodderangler


    I wouldn't say they'd prey on them. More likely kill them over territory. Kinda like lions and leopards. It's all about food


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    I wouldn't say they'd prey on them. More likely kill them over territory. Kinda like lions and leopards. It's all about food

    Ach no! Their territories or ranges are very different. The mink is a semiaquatic animal while the Pine Marten is primarily an arboreal animal. They don't share the Irish savannah as a rule.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,934 ✭✭✭robp



    I think people are becoming complacent about pine marten numbers. The increase from a very small pocket in the west over the last 50 years is accepted but I think the picture is less rosy then is often stated.

    See O’Mahony, Declan, Catherine O’Reilly, and Peter Turner. "Pine marten distribution and abundance in Ireland: A cross-jurisdictional analysis using non-invasive genetic survey techniques." Mammalian Biology-Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde 77.5 (2012): 351-357.
    Our results may necessitate the re-evaluation of recent jurisdictional conservation assessments for the species that suggest the pine marten is of favourable conservation status and of least concern in terms of red list status, as they were partly based on what appear to be considerable overestimates of population abundance (3000–10,000 individuals, Marnell et al. (2009)), as compared to less than 3000 in the current study.
    In Northern Ireland, there was little or no evidence of any range expansion by pine martens over recent decades. The population remains largely concentrated in western areas where it has been established for decades


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    robp wrote: »
    I think people are becoming complacent about pine marten numbers. The increase from a very small pocket in the west over the last 50 years is accepted but I think the picture is less rosy then is often stated.

    See O’Mahony, Declan, Catherine O’Reilly, and Peter Turner. "Pine marten distribution and abundance in Ireland: A cross-jurisdictional analysis using non-invasive genetic survey techniques." Mammalian Biology-Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde 77.5 (2012): 351-357.

    Accepted. But if you read the actual survey report you'll see it refers to the fact that the "population in the midlands is proportionately higher than in other parts of Europe."
    They make no claims of expansion but show a population that has stabilised in the region and a greater density than previously recorded. Nobody is saying the situation is rosey or any other colour just yet but the trend is encouraging.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,934 ✭✭✭robp


    Accepted. But if you read the actual survey report you'll see it refers to the fact that the "population in the midlands is proportionately higher than in other parts of Europe."
    They make no claims of expansion but show a population that has stabilised in the region and a greater density than previously recorded. Nobody is saying the situation is rosey or any other colour just yet but the trend is encouraging.

    Don't get me wrong I am not criticising this recent work at all or the IT article at all. I just notice when people discuss the species in the press of or the radio they always focus on the historic increase and don't mention that the lack of any expansion in many regional populations. In light of the fact that pine martens may help red squirrel numbers I hope every effort is given to expand pine marten numbers and habitat connectivity.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,069 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    The issue of illegal dumping and industrial turfcutting in Glenveagh National Park, as highlighted by the IWT this week, is being discussed in this thread now


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,069 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,077 ✭✭✭Capercaille



    The GWFG seem to be in terminal decline, I wonder will they be extinct in my lifetime. A sad thought.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,069 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    The GWFG seem to be in terminal decline, I wonder will they be extinct in my lifetime. A sad thought.


    I'd say it depends on how old you are :P I'd say they'll be around for a while yet, but only just about - hard to foresee an upturn in their fortunes tbh. And to think, the population was at a record high only 14 or 15 years ago!


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,069 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,077 ✭✭✭Capercaille




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,204 ✭✭✭dodderangler




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,067 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    strange to see an owl out in daytime hunting for food


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,204 ✭✭✭dodderangler


    fryup wrote: »
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    strange to see an owl out in daytime hunting for food

    Barn owls will often hunt during the day if their night hunt was unsuccessful.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,067 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    skinned Badgers in Co Tipp :confused:

    why would they do such a thing?? is it to scare off other Badgers?? or was the fur left behind by mistake? is badger fur valuable?


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,069 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    Heritage Council Urges New Approach to Agri-Environment Programme

    We badly need more investment in agri-environmental schemes in Ireland, and ones that actually provide benefits to biodiversity rather than just pay lip service to it!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,320 ✭✭✭snowstreams


    IrishLittleEgretturnsupIceland

    Thats a strange direction to fly for a typically sub tropical bird.
    I wonder have they evolved a kind of colonisation gene that is encouraging them to fly all sorts of places?!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 619 ✭✭✭vistafinder


    fryup wrote: »
    skinned Badgers in Co Tipp :confused:

    why would they do such a thing?? is it to scare off other Badgers?? or was the fur left behind by mistake? is badger fur valuable?


    I came across a badger left on the side of the road a couple of months ago while out cycling.

    First thing I saw was fur scattered around and a little bit passed was a skinned badger with it head missing.

    This is the kind of people we are dealing with here!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,992 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    Is the badger carcass left behind in these skinning incidents?
    Is it possible that people are hunting them for the meat? It seems bizarre to go to the trouble of killing and skinning an animal, and then leave both the skin and the carcass behind.


  • Registered Users Posts: 167 ✭✭junospider


    The skins look like deer skins to me.deffo not badgers.


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  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,069 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    junospider wrote: »
    deffo not badgers.

    Care to elaborate on how you came to that conclusion?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,992 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    Its a very poor photo, but most grazing animals are countershaded, ie darker back and lighter belly, which is a camouflaging pattern to counteract the effect of sunlight and shade. Badgers are low to the ground and mostly nocturnal, and don't need countershading.
    I've often seen deer legs left behind by hunters near to vehicular access points of forests. This is so they can fit the carcass in the boot of a car.
    Leaving the skins at the side of the road is unpleasant but IMO unless you are a vegetarian, you can't really complain about people eating game. Its organic and its free range.


  • Registered Users Posts: 167 ✭✭junospider


    Care to elaborate on how you came to that co

    nclusion?[/Q Look like sika deer skins to me.badgers look a uniform grey apart from the head which is not in the photo,also I can understand why someone would skin deer and take away the meat but why would anyone skin badgers,leave the skin and take away the carcase?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,003 ✭✭✭Zoo4m8


    fryup wrote: »
    skinned Badgers in Co Tipp :confused:

    why would they do such a thing?? is it to scare off other Badgers?? or was the fur left behind by mistake? is badger fur valuable?

    Sika deer skins. Alarmist, misinformed journalism, unfortunately becoming more commonplace IMO, particularly in 'local' papers.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40 An Fhuiseog


    Zoo4m8 wrote: »
    Sika deer skins. Alarmist, misinformed journalism, unfortunately becoming more commonplace IMO, particularly in 'local' papers.

    I think the person who found the pelts was letting his imagination run away with him;he said he saw a badger weeks before finding the pelts and put two and two together!

    I've attached an image of a Sika deer pelt below(not a great pic.) and think it looks remarkably similar to the pelts shown in the earlier post:


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,986 ✭✭✭philstar


    i would have thought deer pelts would be alot bigger??

    the images in the article seem to match the size and colour shading of an adult badger


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40 An Fhuiseog


    philstar wrote: »
    i would have thought deer pelts would be alot bigger??

    the images in the article seem to match the size and colour shading of an adult badger

    Like most here,I prefer to see my wildlife alive and kicking and as much as it pains me to show the images attached below,I think it shows a great difference between an adult badger pelt and that of a Sika deer:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    We more or less knew this but nice to see the sciences behind it .



    http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0115/498072-birds-aviation-nature/


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,077 ✭✭✭Capercaille


    http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/365040-farming-to-save-the-fat-man-?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=News
    New research showing how Corn Bunting can hopefully be saved from extinction In the UK. Too late for our extinct Corn Bunting in Ireland though.:(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,423 ✭✭✭V_Moth




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,343 ✭✭✭red_bairn


    V_Moth wrote: »

    My mate got the job and will be on the Late Late tomorrow. Briefly.


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