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Nature in the News

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    Rare white giraffes.. evil, evil poachers have killed a female and calf, leaving a solitary male as the only white giraffe left in existence.. Utter outrage Cannot post link


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,979 ✭✭✭Eddie B


    Alun wrote: »
    I thought that was already a well known fact?

    Also that reds, being smaller and lighter, can escape from martens more easily on thinner, lighter branches that greys wouldn't use.

    I honestly don't believe the size of the red squirrel is a major factor. Any squirrel would be a match for a marten during a chase through the tree's. Taking the squirrels on the ground is more likely the most common method of attack IMO.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 62 ✭✭purplesnack


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Rare white giraffes.. evil, evil poachers have killed a female and calf, leaving a solitary male as the only white giraffe left in existence.. Utter outrage Cannot post link

    It's absolutely disgusting. Such a totally unnecessary loss of innocent life. I seriously question the mentality of anyone that can take a life so needlessly


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,773 ✭✭✭Scotty #




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


    For anyone looking for something nature-related to do at home during the current restrictions, I've updated the BirdWatch Ireland website with some info about nestboxes - which ones to get, how to make them and where to put them - see the link below and follow the various links therein for more details!

    https://birdwatchireland.ie/spring-into-action-with-a-nestbox-in-your-garden/


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    The ongoing destruction of habitat and wildlife in various blackspots around the world plays a big role in the spread of Covid and other deadly plagues

    http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/news/conservation-time-coronavirus-message-ceo


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/27/wildlife-charity-heal-rewilding-buy-uk-land-nature?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR2pxf3pwxc6Tr9PF88NyFWFRTv1By_lbo4BvZLQoXKhtFAeITCBhNxk79M#Echobox=1585338407

    I'm of the opinion that we need something similar here given the poor state of many so called "designated" sites and the failure of schemes like REPS etc. to turn back the tide of loss.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,182 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    problem is, buying land here is such an expensive proposition.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    problem is, buying land here is such an expensive proposition.

    It depends - poorer quality can be got for alot cheaper then might attract the likes of dairy farmers etc.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    http://www.birdlife.org/europe-and-central-asia/news/reviving-fen-therapy-europes-lungs-belarus

    Would be good to see such lessons transferred here for our belegured Fens


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 883 ✭✭✭Keplar240B




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




  • Registered Users Posts: 1,382 ✭✭✭FFVII


    I noticed a massive drop off in bird numbers this past year, like everything else, I just put it down to the planet getting trashed, a step closer to most of our demises (cough covid) but I heard today a guy saying 5G is after killing all the birds....wtf I thought but theirs actually a good bit of results when you search it!?


    https://duckduckgo.com/?q=birds+and+5g&t=fpas&ia=web

    https://smombiegate.org/list-of-cities-towns-councils-and-countries-that-have-banned-5g/

    Good few individual areas banning it for now.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,979 ✭✭✭Eddie B


    FFVII wrote: »
    I noticed a massive drop off in bird numbers this past year, like everything else, I just put it down to the planet getting trashed, a step closer to most of our demises (cough covid) but I heard today a guy saying 5G is after killing all the birds....wtf I thought but theirs actually a good bit of results when you search it!?


    https://duckduckgo.com/?q=birds+and+5g&t=fpas&ia=web

    https://smombiegate.org/list-of-cities-towns-councils-and-countries-that-have-banned-5g/

    Good few individual areas banning it for now.

    Haven't read any evidence to prove any of it is true. The dead birds thing is rubbish. Also causing the virus, however that is meant to work


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,182 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    Where do you live? Highly unlikely 5g was rolled out there last year. It's barely available in Ireland. There are usually panic laden articles like this every time one of these new technologies are rolled out.


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


    FFVII wrote: »
    I noticed a massive drop off in bird numbers this past year, like everything else, I just put it down to the planet getting trashed, a step closer to most of our demises (cough covid) but I heard today a guy saying 5G is after killing all the birds....wtf I thought but theirs actually a good bit of results when you search it!?


    https://duckduckgo.com/?q=birds+and+5g&t=fpas&ia=web

    https://smombiegate.org/list-of-cities-towns-councils-and-countries-that-have-banned-5g/

    Good few individual areas banning it for now.


    Let me assure you that 5G is not causing any bird declines. I've had to do a lot of research in the last two years into declines of different species of birds, and there's none that say 5G will or is having an impact. It's a conspiracy theory, it happens every time a new technology is rolled out, and it's simply not true.

    I'm involved in the three biggest bird surveys in this country, and plenty more individual species surveys, and I can tell you there hasn't been a massive dropoff in bird numbers in the last year.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,047 ✭✭✭appledrop


    No drop off in birds were I live.

    One of few pluses of this virus is I'm really enjoying watching birds in garden during this spring.

    We have loads daily at birdfeeder + a pair of collared doves + wooden pigeons in or garden daily who must have a nest nearby as they are all over it each other! I never realised they could be so affectionate towards each other.

    We also have a mating pair of blackbirds. Cant wait till all the chicks hatch + will be able to follow them daily while working from home.

    We would never get to see this properly if running around like normal!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Birdnuts




  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,182 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    not just ireland, unfortunately:

    Wildfires rip through Poland's biggest national park
    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52392231


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,487 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    not just ireland, unfortunately:

    Wildfires rip through Poland's biggest national park
    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52392231
    There's been one in the forests surrounding the area of the Chernobyl reactor too, which has become something of a wildlife conservation area after the accident there.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 187 ✭✭Ulmus




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,363 ✭✭✭✭Del.Monte


    It needs to be rolled out by councils across the country as councils are responsible for so much destruction of hedges etc., and the creation of prairies of cut grass to no discernible purpose.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭SnowyMuckish


    Saw that article!delighted with the news, at least it’s a small step in the right direction!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 187 ✭✭Ulmus


    The public grassy areas and road verges were mown as usual in Dublin 11. I was disappointed as I thought the Council would implement radical change. They'll probably leave token, small patches uncut. So much time and effort is spent cutting the grass but it keeps the workers busy.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    Australian flat worms discovered in west Cork in veg plot.

    https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2020/0504/1136386-flatworm-cork/
    Three invasive Australian flatworms have been discovered in Co Cork.

    A spokesperson for Friends of the Irish environment said she discovered the flatworms in her vegetable patch in the Beara peninsula in West Cork.

    Caroline Lewis told Morning Ireland that she had never seen one before (they are bright orange and flat) and warned that it could have significant effects on the environment and economy because it is an invasive species and could compromise soil fertility because it eats earthworms, which are essential to soil fertility.

    So if you see a can of Fosters and a cork hat at ground level you know what's happening.

    edit - not the first known examples it turns out. Dick Warner in what must have been almost his last article in the media was phlegmatic about them

    https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/outdoors/dick-warner/dick-warner-invasive-australian-flatworm-leaves-mixed-feelings-444449.html


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,182 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    i've found new zealand flatworms in my garden. i'd read that they don't like heat, and can confirm that they certainly don't like being hit with a gas torch.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭SnowyMuckish


    Great idea! Lovely way to pass time with children and get them into nature. That’s the ‘Living Things’ strand ticked off the science curriculum during lockdown!

    https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/newsireland/biodiversity-experts-ask-irish-people-to-reconnect-with-nature-during-lockdown/ar-BB13HCqC?li=BBr5MK2


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,182 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    copied and pasted from the golden eagle trust facebook page:
    An Attack on Nature Protection in Cork.

    Carbofuran is a banned root crop pesticide that continues to be used to deliberately kill birds of prey across Ireland. Some months ago, a landowner discovered dead Buzzards on his property, near Timoleague, County Cork and contacted the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). 23 dead Common Buzzards were found during subsequent searches of the adjacent land. Toxicology tests, carried out by the State Laboratory, showed that the Buzzards had consumed Carbofuran, we believe. The landowner was completely unaware that a third party was leaving out poison nearby. This is the biggest illegal act against birds of prey in Ireland, over the last two decades.

    The continued wilful persecution of birds of prey is decreasing the population of Peregrines, Hen Harriers, Buzzards and the reintroduced native populations of Eagles and Kites, in some parts of Ireland. It can be very difficult to find the evidence that could link an individual with an act of poisoning and thereby present sufficient evidence before a judge in order to secure a successful prosecution.

    Therefore, the Golden Eagle Trust is calling on Government Departments to draft and enact a defined piece of legislation which makes it illegal for anybody to be in possession of Carbofuran and several other lethal substances, whose former agricultural uses have been banned and phased out. We are also calling on the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to revisit their discussion on whether it would be helpful to establish a small (one or two person) Wildlife Crime Unit within NPWS, in order to provide specialized advice and expertise in responding to reported wildlife crime incidents and presenting a strong legal case to the State Solicitors and to be put before the Courts; whenever the evidence allows a case to be initiated.

    It is difficult to assess the effectiveness and enforcement of National and European wildlife legislation in Ireland and the degree of deterrent it might offer, arising from successful Irish wildlife court cases; as court cases or successful wildlife crime prosecution figures are not readily available. However, a crude review of available internet media sources, might suggest that there has not been any successful wildlife crime court case, over the last 4 or 5 years, in Counties Cork or Kerry, for example. The general public have a very important role in reporting dead birds of prey to NPWS and they in turn, need appropriate laws, staff resources and appropriate management facilitation in implementing the law, where the evidence allows it, in some of these ongoing poisoning incidents.

    Whilst there may be several legitimate administrative reasons for the lack of clarity surrounding Ireland’s biggest raptor persecution case, arising from the current Coronavirus crisis; there is also a competing responsibility to keep communities informed of nearby risks related to illegal poisoning activity. The wider context reveals an unfortunate pattern of Peregrines being killed at the same nests annually and Common Buzzards and Red Kites being poisoned, in localized areas, on a regular basis. It can be extremely difficult to identify the perpetrators of these crimes against nature and therefore the legislation needs to keep abreast of the collated RAPTOR Protocol dataset and counter, the primary threats that the accruing results suggest.

    In July 2010, the Grant Thornton, ‘Organisational Review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), suggested in Section 4.5.1 (Page 55) that;
    “Enforcement and prosecution activity is represented as being low with only some 30 cases per annum being prosecuted. Progress in this area seems to vary depending on Division.”

    The Golden Eagle Trust wonder if the level of nature protection enforcement activity might have fallen even further since 2010? We are concerned that a lack of Ministerial, Departmental or Party-Political support, for some aspects of the Law, may have weakened NPWS managerial resolve, in some areas, over the last decade. In a small number of places, recreational family groups, dog walkers and landowners may need to be especially vigilante as regards the possibility that poisoned meat baits have been left out in the open. This incident revives the independent expert opinion and concern (as set out in the Grant Thornton Organisational Review) whether some NPWS managers need more support and resources in progressing illegal wildlife activity cases? The unpalatable alternative, is that the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht transparently seek to repeal defined aspects of Irish or European Wildlife Legislation, which they may no longer endorse.

    Regardless of the context; we are shocked by the number of dead Buzzards found in Cork and the 23 associated positive toxicology results – it is a wake-up call to us all.

    https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3105628219495070&id=144404808950774&__tn__=K-R


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


    When are people going to be held responsible and convicted probably for these poisonings? Absolutely sickening act of cruelty


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




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,363 ✭✭✭✭Del.Monte


    But will anything be done apart from the ritual hand-wringing by various bodies?


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


    Del.Monte wrote: »
    But will anything be done apart from the ritual hand-wringing by various bodies?

    Doubtful. It will be spoken about for a week or two and then be forgotten like every other raptor persecution incident here and in the uk.

    I have been told first hand by some farmers and game club members what they'd 'like' to do to buzzards. At the end of the day they're narrow minded, uneducated ignorant idiots


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,182 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    my own father in law has returned from the clay range full of nonsense about buzzards; probably the closest i've come to a full blown argument with him. usually i just mentally close my eyes and let it wash over me.
    this time though, it was a) the return of the buzzard is the reason for the decline of songbirds, and b) buzzards are not native precisely because they were, but were hunted to extinction, and returned of their own accord.

    this is a man who prides himself on hating farmers 'because they don't care about nature'.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 77,027 Mod ✭✭✭✭New Home


    It's not news-news because the article is from 2018, but I hadn't come across it before.

    https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/08/scientists-spent-years-plan-import-wasp-kill-stinkbugs-then-it-showed-its-own

    In Southern Europe it's wiped out 80% of the soy crops in one single year. Fruit and vegetable crops are severely damaged (way more than is shown in that picture) and they invade houses to the point of clogging flues and vents.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 883 ✭✭✭Keplar240B


    https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2020/0525/1141491-coillte-forests/
    Coillte has announced that all nine of its forests in Dublin are changing to non-commercial recreational use.

    The move means an end to commercial operations in the woods and will result in more bio diverse and climate resilient forests.

    Karen Woods, Director of Operations for Coillte Nature, the non profit arm of the forestry company, told RTÉ News that there will be no more planting, in Dublin, of Sitka Spruce the dominant species in Coillte's plantations.

    It will gradually be replaced by native species including many more broad leaf varieties. Clear felling large areas will be phased out and replaced by a system called continuous cover.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 383 ✭✭Saudades


    Keplar240B wrote: »
    Karen Woods, Director of Operations for Coillte Nature, the non profit arm of the forestry company, told RTÉ News that there will be no more planting, in Dublin, of Sitka Spruce the dominant species in Coillte's plantations.

    The Director of Operations for Coillte Nature is called Karen Woods? - brilliant :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭SnowyMuckish


    Keplar240B wrote: »

    Fantastic news, people are slowly beginning to understand the value of our natural native species and their impact on biodiversity. Another small step in the right direction!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭SnowyMuckish


    Saudades wrote: »
    The Director of Operations for Coillte Nature is called Karen Woods? - brilliant :)

    There are so many hilarious surnames, I once heard of a boat engine sales man called Flood and a solicitor called Lawless. Should have a thread of its own in AH :pac:


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


    Birdwatch Ireland PRO is called Niall Hatch.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,001 ✭✭✭Mr Crispy


    Nominative determinism, for those interested.

    Good news about Coillte's move re: native woodland. Hopefully it's just the beginning.


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


    whyulittle wrote: »
    Birdwatch Ireland PRO is called Niall Hatch.

    BirdWatch has also had staff with surnames Crowe, Tallon, Finch and Wing in the recent past...


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,182 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    my brother's friend is a garda and works with a chap called ******** carr.
    garda carr.


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


    A big report on Ireland's Countryside Birds was published recently - see below for some details and links:

    https://birdwatchireland.ie/milestone-publication-on-the-status-of-irelands-countryside-birds/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭SnowyMuckish


    A big report on Ireland's Countryside Birds was published recently - see below for some details and links:

    https://birdwatchireland.ie/milestone-publication-on-the-status-of-irelands-countryside-birds/

    Seems overall positive? I didn’t read it in a lot of detail just had a quick scan of the graphs. Has there been an increase of people participating over the years? Would that have an effect on the upwards trends?


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


    Seems overall positive? I didn’t read it in a lot of detail just had a quick scan of the graphs. Has there been an increase of people participating over the years? Would that have an effect on the upwards trends?


    There are definitely positives to take away from it, but the Yellowhammer bit at the end is important. A lot of species are stable over the last 20 years (i.e. lifetime of CBS), but they're at a fraction of the numbers/distribution they were a few decades previous - so that's important context for a lot of species that are habitat-specialists.

    The analysis methods take into account varying levels of surveying etc, so that has no real affect on the results.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,487 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    http://tippfm.com/news/animal-welfare/rescue-dog-poisoned-knockmealdowns/

    I'm a volunteer with SARDA so this is really upsetting for me personally. Probably the same poison as that responsible for all the BOP poisonings.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 77,027 Mod ✭✭✭✭New Home


    The culprits should serve a jail sentence and be fined through the nose. Despicable people.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,182 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    the article is unclear if bonnie survived?


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