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Wildlife Newsletter for the Township of Dalkey
March 2006 - Michael Ryan
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Although our nearest neighbour and comparatively near as the crow flies the UK has a number of species of birds which are very rare if not totally absent in Ireland. These include the Tawny Owl (the owl that makes the classic ‘too-wit too-woo’ call often heard on TV programmes), Little Owl, Nuthatch, Nightingale, and their three species of woodpecker, Greater Spotted, Lesser Spotted and Green Woodpecker. Some summer migrants like Redstart and Pied Flycatcher are very common in the oak woodlands of Wales but are very rare breeders in Ireland, just a few pairs breeding in old woodlands in Wicklow where they have a very tenuous hold. There are a number of reasons and theories why these birds are absent here. Some, like the Nightingale, have reached the maximum of their migration range in Britain, some like the Tawny Owl are non migrants which rarely move too far from their birthplace. It is believed by some that the Great Spotted Woodpecker did exist in Ireland but became extinct many thousand of years ago and it is currently the subject of a proposed reintroduction to Ireland. There is a talk on this subject, hosted by Birdwatch Ireland, in the Kingston Hotel in April. Introductions can be controversial and some people have great doubts about this proposal but in this case the woodpecker may have taken matters into its own ‘hands’. Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been seen in Wicklow in recent years, one coming regularly to a garden feeder near Laragh another seen in woodland near the Beehive pub. One spent a week in a garden near Killoughter last September and one is currently a regular to feeders in a garden in Howth. The surprising thing about the Killoughter and Howth birds is that they were juveniles, which would suggest they had been born here. A very experienced birdwatcher heard what he suspected was one in Dalkey last January so who knows, they might have found, like many foreign nationals, that Ireland has become a desirable place to live. Fatal Cut Backs Peak nesting time has the misfortune to coincide with the time when many gardeners are out cutting back bushes and hedges and many nests are accidentally exposed or destroyed by hedge trimmers or shears so be careful if you’re cutting. Getting down low and looking up at the bush from ground level you have a better chance of seeing a nest within the bush or hedge exposed against the light.

Hair of the dog
If you have a hairy dog (or even a cat I suppose) that needs regular brushing why not leave out some of its hair on branches or hedges where they can be taken by birds to line their nest. Down from old pillows is very acceptable for avian homemakers as well, particularly for Long tailed tits which can use up to two thousand feathers to line their nest. Keep an eye open for early migrants, Wheatears on the coast, Sandwich Terns at sea, Sand Martins, House Martins and Swallows in the air, all regularly seen in March.

Keep a record of your sightings.
Sheltered Housing - Buy or make that nest box you’ve always planned to put up in your garden. Plans and diagrams for making varieties of nest boxes as well as a selection of boxes are available at Birdwatch HQ, on their website, in leaflets and in many bird books. Find out the best position to place boxes, high enough and out of intense sunlight or prevalent rain. If you are buying one go for the soundest, most basic box with a hole the diameter of an old 20 pence piece (22mms) for Blue Tits and open fronted boxes for Robins. Avoid elaborate boxes with patios and perches. These only provide access for Magpies, cats and other predators. Birds don’t perch on the nest where they might attract unwanted attention. There are also boxes available, which look like medieval Swiss churches and traditional Irish thatched cottages, but these would have no appeal to any self-respecting bird.


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