I was getting settled at my desk yesterday morning, pondering what to write for my Irish Independent wildlife column, when the phone beeped. It was a message from Padraig Whooley, sightings coordinator with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, telling me that a suspected fin whale had live-stranded in Baltimore, West Cork. He'd be passing my house in a quarter of an hour if I … [Read more...] about Baltimore whale stranding: a good news story?
npws
Duhallow community backs hen harrier tracking project
A high-tech project to help scientists discover more about Ireland’s declining Hen Harrier population is underway in the Duhallow region thanks in no small part to support from the local community. The cutting edge satellite-tracking project is a collaboration between IRD Duhallow (the community focussed Integrated Rural Development body for the region) and the National Parks … [Read more...] about Duhallow community backs hen harrier tracking project
Ninth Wicklow red kite poisoning confirmed
A ninth red kite from the Irish project to reintroduce this magnificent bird of prey has been killed by poisoning .Tests on the bird, which was found dead near Brittas Bay at the end of last year, have confirmed the cause of death as illegal poisoning. It was a breeding female that had previously nested on a farm near Redcross, Co. Wicklow. Scavenging makes red kites … [Read more...] about Ninth Wicklow red kite poisoning confirmed
Under Threat: New Red List for Ireland’s Fish, Reptiles and Amphibians
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has issued the latest in a new series of All-Ireland Red Data Lists for fish, reptiles and amphibians. The list was compiled collaboratively by organisations both side of the border, and while the majority of species are categorised as Least Concern according to IUCN criteria, 40% of our native fish species (6 out of a total of 15) and … [Read more...] about Under Threat: New Red List for Ireland’s Fish, Reptiles and Amphibians
National survey of protected Marsh Fritillary imminent
A national survey of the rare marsh fritillary butterfly is currently being commissioned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the National Biodiversity Data Centre according to press reports at the end of last week. Butterfly expert and ecologist Dr Eugenie Regan of the National Biodiversity Data Centre described the survey as "the least we can do” for … [Read more...] about National survey of protected Marsh Fritillary imminent
