The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirmed earlier this week that colonies of the invasive Oak Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea processionea) had been discovered on four oak trees in a Dublin housing estate. The caterpillars and the trees have been destroyed in an attempt to eradicate the pest before it becomes established. Intensive surveying of the … [Read more...] about Oak Processionary Moth confirmed in Ireland
Irish Wildlife News
World Migratory Bird Day — ESRI Mapping Migration
Around 450 different bird species have been recorded on the island of Ireland, and although a lot of them are migratory and rare, now is the best chance to catch a glimpse of them as they return north to build nests and prepare for the breeding season.Esri Ireland, a market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has created a digital map highlighting the flight … [Read more...] about World Migratory Bird Day — ESRI Mapping Migration
Avian Influenza hits Irish seabird colonies
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI H5N1) has hit Irish seabird colonies this breeding season after running rampant through similar colonies in the UK earlier this year. The disease, which can infect a wide range of bird species, appears to have hit breeding Gannet colonies particularly hard.Gannets, our larges seabird, nest in dense colonies on uninhabited … [Read more...] about Avian Influenza hits Irish seabird colonies
Wally the Walrus stops off in West Cork
On the most recent leg of his remarkable journey, Wally the wandering walrus who was first spotted off Valentia Island in Co. Kerry back in March 2021, was seen lounging aboard a moored motorboat in a small cove near Clonakilty on the West Cork coast.Wally, a young male walrus, has travelled extensively on his journey south. After that first sighting in Kerry he's spent … [Read more...] about Wally the Walrus stops off in West Cork
Rare Marsh Harrier breeds successfully in Ireland again
For the first time in more than a century, not one, but two pairs of Marsh Harrier have bred successfully in the Republic of Ireland.The Irish Raptor Study Group (IRSG) confirmed in December that the rare birds of prey successfully reared young at sites in counties Galway and Westmeath during the 2020 breeding season. The last recorded breeding of the species in Ireland was … [Read more...] about Rare Marsh Harrier breeds successfully in Ireland again
Humpback Whale Catalogue breaches 100 animal milestone
The Irish Whale And Dolphin Group's (IWDG) Humpback Whale Catalogue has broken the 100 individual milestone.On the 20 July IWDG researcher Nick Masset photographed two new Humpback Whales off the coast of West Kerry, and HBIRL#100 and HBIRL#101 took their respective places in the photo ID catalogue that documents every individually recognisable Humpback Whale recorded in … [Read more...] about Humpback Whale Catalogue breaches 100 animal milestone
Irish eagle numbers boosted
Ten new White-tailed Eagle chicks arrived in Ireland from Norway last week to bolster population numbers as Phase II of the ongoing White-tailed Eagle reintroduction programme got underway.The ambitious reintroduction programme, a joint initiative between the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Golden Eagle Trust, began with the release of 100 Norwegian … [Read more...] about Irish eagle numbers boosted
Live White-tailed Eagle Webcam
Thanks to the National Parks and Wildlife service we can now follow the intrigues and antics of the white-tailed eagle pair nesting in Glengarriff Co. Cork live via their very own nestcam.Part of a reintroduction programme for the species that began in 2007, the adult eagles (male Blue W and female Black P) have successfully hatched a chick over recent days and it's a … [Read more...] about Live White-tailed Eagle Webcam
Minister halts plans to allow hedge-cutting in August
Minister for Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD has announced that she will not exercise her discretionary powers under the new Heritage Act to allow hedge-cutting to proceed in August this year.“Hedgerows are a very important wildlife habitat, providing food, shelter, corridors of movement, nest and hibernation sites for many of our native flora and … [Read more...] about Minister halts plans to allow hedge-cutting in August
Irish Humpback Whale linked to Cape Verde breeding grounds
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has announced a positive match between a Humpback Whale photographed at feeding grounds off the Irish south coast in 2015, and an animal photographed at breeding grounds in the Cape Verde Islands off West Africa in April of this year.This is the first ever match between one of the 92 whales (at the time of writing) in the Irish … [Read more...] about Irish Humpback Whale linked to Cape Verde breeding grounds
Video captures essence of Ireland’s wildlife at National Biodiversity Conference
Ireland is home to some truly phenomenal wildlife.Our position on the western periphery of Europe, perched on the edge of the wild North Atlantic, makes this a truly special place. The essence of Ireland's natural heritage is encapsulated in this short video, compiled by Crossing The Line Films. It was screened during "New Horizon's For Nature", Ireland's first National … [Read more...] about Video captures essence of Ireland’s wildlife at National Biodiversity Conference
Young White-tailed Eagle found dead in Co. Kerry
Eddie, the White-tailed Eagle chick who made headlines in 2016 when he became the first wild-fledged eagle to take to the skies of County Cork in more than 100 years, was found dead on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry in June.According to reports from The Golden Eagle Trust/National Parks and Wildlife Service Eddies remains were discovered by a forestry worker … [Read more...] about Young White-tailed Eagle found dead in Co. Kerry
New Biodiversity Maps system a “game changer” for conservation
The National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) has launched a major upgrade to its online data portal, Biodiversity Maps. The new system offers enhanced online access to the Centre's national repository of sightings data, consisting of more than four million verified records from multiple sources spanning almost 16,000 species.The system is free and open to all via the … [Read more...] about New Biodiversity Maps system a “game changer” for conservation
First basking sharks and humpback whales of the year off Ireland’s south coast
Ireland's wild south coast scored a "double whammy" in the marine megafauna stakes over the last week, with records of the first basking sharks and humpback whales of the 2018 season off the coasts of Kerry and West Cork respectively.According to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, which coordinates sightings of whales, dolphins and basking sharks around the Irish coast, the … [Read more...] about First basking sharks and humpback whales of the year off Ireland’s south coast
Huge spike in common dolphin deaths around Ireland
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group has expressed concern over a worrying increase in reports of dead common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) around the Irish coast during the first two months of 2018.According to the figures on the group's website 2017 was a record year for cetacean strandings in Ireland, with 263 validated stranding records (of all species) documented over the … [Read more...] about Huge spike in common dolphin deaths around Ireland
Arctic interloper stuns Irish wildlife enthusiasts
The discovery of a bearded seal in the small West Cork town of Timoleague late last week left Irish wildlife enthusiasts stunned, and led to widespread speculation about what it was doing so far south of its Arctic range.If you watch wildlife regularly you learn to expect the unexpected, and yet nature retains an almost unparalleled capacity to surprise and delight … [Read more...] about Arctic interloper stuns Irish wildlife enthusiasts
Authorities ask for help to contain deadly crayfish plague
Authorities are urging water users on the River Suir to take precautions after confirmation of an outbreak of Crayfish Plague on the stretch of river downstream of Clonmel to Carrick-on-Suir in Tipperary.DNA analysis following the discovery of a large number of dead crayfish in the river earlier this month has confirmed Crayfish Plague as the cause. The fungal disease … [Read more...] about Authorities ask for help to contain deadly crayfish plague
State of the Environment report highlights need for “transformational change” say’s Ireland’s EPA
Ireland's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its sixth landmark State of the Environment report, providing an integrated assessment of the overall quality of Ireland's environment, the pressures being placed on it and our responses to current and emerging environmental issues. "Transformational change needed to deal with climate change and other risks to our … [Read more...] about State of the Environment report highlights need for “transformational change” say’s Ireland’s EPA
White-tailed eagle chicks fledge successfully in 3 counties
A total of six white-tailed eagle chicks successfully fledged from five nests in three different counties in 2016, making this the most successful year to date in the long-term reintroduction programme for this iconic bird of prey in Ireland.Eight pairs of white-tailed eagle attempted to breed and successfully laid eggs in 2016 and five pairs managed to rear chicks … [Read more...] about White-tailed eagle chicks fledge successfully in 3 counties
New whale species for Ireland: Bowhead Whale confirmed at Carlingford
The Irish Whale and Dolphin group (IWDG) has confirmed that an unidentified whale seen and photographed by the crew of a pilot vessel at the mouth of Carlingford Lough yesterday is a young bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus).This Arctic whale species has never been recorded before in Irish water, and fittingly becomes the 25th whale and dolphin species on the Irish list on … [Read more...] about New whale species for Ireland: Bowhead Whale confirmed at Carlingford
Successful convictions in Waterford raptor case
On 09 March in Dungarvan District Court the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) secured successful convictions in a high-profile wildlife crime case. The court convicted four felons of crimes relating to targeting and killing of protected birds of prey during the 2014 breeding season.The case began more than two years ago, in March 2014, when NPWS conservation … [Read more...] about Successful convictions in Waterford raptor case
Ireland’s Wildlife delighted to extend bird food partnership
With winter arriving and the annual Birdwatch Ireland Garden Birdwatch imminent we're entering high season for feeding our garden birds. Against that backdrop Ireland's Wildlife is delighted to announce that we're extending our partnership with CJ Wildlife as our official Bird Food and Garden Wildlife Supplier.Operating in Ireland through its Irish portal www.birdfood.ie, … [Read more...] about Ireland’s Wildlife delighted to extend bird food partnership
All Ireland Pollinator Plan good news for bees…. and for people
A new island-wide plan to halt the decline in Ireland's bees and other pollinators was officially launched yesterday by the National Biodiversity Data Centre.Backed by by 68 governmental and non-governmental organisations across the Island of Ireland, the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015-2020 identifies actions we can take on our farmland, public land and private land to … [Read more...] about All Ireland Pollinator Plan good news for bees…. and for people
Rare beluga whale sighting off Antrim coast
A rare beluga whale, a species usually only found in Arctic and sub-arctic waters, was captured on camera off the Antrim coastline late last week. This is the first confirmed report of this rare cetacean in Irish waters since the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) started keeping systematic sightings records in 1991 and only the third ever. The two previous … [Read more...] about Rare beluga whale sighting off Antrim coast
Sad news as Irish white-tailed eagle chick dies of natural causes
News broke yesterday of a devastating development for the family of white-tailed eagles in Glengarriff, Co. Cork when it was announced that the 10 week old chick had died in the nest of natural causes just days before it was expected to fledge.One of five pairs of white-tailed eagle breeding in Ireland this year, the Glengarriff pair had successfully raised what appeared to … [Read more...] about Sad news as Irish white-tailed eagle chick dies of natural causes
