7th October Green Drinks -the red squirrel

This month's Green Drinks heard Denis O'Meara, Project Officer for the Mammals in a Sustainable Environment (MISE) project talk about the history of the red squirrel in Ireland. Red, charming, and so very Irish, red squirrels were once the most iconic Irish species, inhabiting trees across the country. After a series of lost battles with the American grey squirrel and haphazard reintroduction programmes, they're now one of the rarest. Denise took us on a journey through time, bridging historical records from the fur and live animal trade to the modern technology that's bringing them back. It seems red squirrels were introduced numerous times into Ireland, and may have gone extinct in the past, due to habitat loss and hunting pressures. In other words, the red squirrels we have were all introduced from Britain in historic times. That does not mean however, that they are not worth preserving!

MISE is a scientific outreach and education project based at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), Ireland, that aims to increase awareness of mammals in Ireland and Wales through the organisation of wildlife surveys and events. Denise has been surveying for pine marten, otters, stoats, squirrels, bats and small mammals using non-invasive survey techniques complimented with DNA verification of field evidence such as faeces and hair. During her PhD project (completed at WIT), she developed and optimised a DNA toolbox that can be applied to hair-tube surveys of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). You can follow Denise on her own blog at www.domeara.org

31st August - Heritage Week talk in Carrick Gollaghan Woods

Dublin Branch was over the moon with the large numbers who expressed an interest in our 2014 Heritage Event on Sunday 31st August. We took to the hills and forests of Carrick Gollaghan Woods and the old Ballycorus Leadmines and Chimney. We walked some of the Dublin Mountains Way, and travelled back in time to walk a length of the old Leadmines tunnels, and delved into the Valley of Death. The age of the group ranged from young children to mature years and this was ideal, given this year’s theme was families. Nearly all who joined us for the walk managed to walk the length of the tunnels helped by flashlights.

Along the way we snacked on blackberries generously picked by one of the attendees. As planned, we climbed the Carrick Golloghan to admire the views, discussed the role of pine marten in red squirrel conservation, the make-up of the local ground rock (quartz and granite), and the pros and cons of mixed broadleaf and coniferous woods. Upon reaching the dizzy heights (276m) we were overcome with the swarms of midges and within 10-15 minutes the decision was made to make a quick retreat downhill and return to our cars. Nevertheless a very rewarding day was had by all.

Sarah

 

A great view from the top

Ballycorus Chimney

Green Drinks 5th August - Fracking

This month the Irish Wildlife Trust Dublin Branch heard Richard Curtin from No Fracking Dublin explore the dangers of fracking and how this could have the potential to come to Ireland very soon as part of our energy mix.

Fracking has being hailed by the fossil fuel industry as one of great technical development in recent years, championed as the answer to energy independence for the US and Europe as well as the bridge fuel to the low carbon economy as well.

But fracking has many dirty secrets, everything from water and air pollution, human and animal health impacts, to false economic of the how process works, to the negative impact it has on the climate change.

Richard outlined the plans to bring fracking to Ireland, north and south. Initially the border region of Sligo/Leitrim and Fermanagh is being looked at, but there is the potential for more areas if fracking is allowed there first. However there is hope, as fracking is creating substantial opposition north and south. In Northern Ireland in particular, where proposals are more advanced, it seems that fracking may not proceed just yet, as a recent proposal from Fracking Company Tamboran has been turned down. An issue to keep a close eye on!

How fracking works 1

How fracking works 2

June 7th & 15th Trip to Ireland's Eye

As in previous years, the Dublin Branch of IWT held two trips to Ireland's Eye off Howth. As usual, this year’s two trips (both booked out) were a real adventure. When we got there, the cow parsley was so high that we could have done with machetes. People lolling on the beach stared in wonder as the group emerged from the undergrowth. Gulls and gannets flew around warning us to stay away from the chicks, and to top it all, three peregrine falcon chicks sat like three Musketeers at the very peak of the Stack. Every so often one would fly up but was immediately “buzzed off” by the gulls. An amazing day out both times. Heartfelt thanks to our leaders Conn Flynn and John Fox. Roll on next year!

Barbara

An oystercatcher happy in the sun

Careful - mind my eggs!

A graceful gannet

More gannets perching perilously

On the beach Conn shows the way

Through the cow parsley

Wow! A clear view at last

3rd June Green Drinks - Misunderstood Moths

On Tuesday 3rd June the Irish Wildlife Trust Dublin Branch gathered in JW Sweetmans to hear Catherine Bertrand of Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland discuss moths, one of the most misunderstood creatures in our backyards.

Moths to many of us as small, brown, boring, jumper-munching pests. Come along to find out just how marvellous moths are, how many hundreds of species surround us and the strange and unique roles they play in our ecosystem. Do you know your Brimstone from your Brimstone moth? Your Swallow-tail from your Swallow-tailed? Catherine filled in the audience about how moths come in all shapes, sizes and colours, from the spectacular Elephant Hawkmoth in shades of brown and purple to the black and red cinnabar moth, with its black and yellow striped caterpillars. Contrary to popular belief, many moths fly in the daytime and can be seen in our gardens and meadows.


Altogether moths are far more interesting than most people think, and you can see some of the wide variety of our native moths with the  following link to a leaflet produced by Butterfly Conservation NI


 

May 25th Bull Island Biodiversity Walk

On Sunday May 25th to celebrate Biodiversity Week 2014, (the theme of which is islands), IWT Dublin Branch had a walk on Bull Island to look at some of the diversity of creatures to be found in Dublin City's own UNESCO biosphere reserve. The walk was lead by Niall Mac Coitir and a variety of wildlife was found. There were wild flowers such as dove's foot cranesbill, and early purple orchid, and there were also birds such as meadow pipits and especially skylarks which put on a fine display with their singing.

Above all there were lots of creepy crawlies. The group saw the brightly coloured caterpillars of the white satin and yellow tail moths feeding on some of the native willow trees on the island, and the bright green beetle psilothrix cyaneus feeding on some oxford ragwort. A small pond along the way also revealed tadpoles, mayfly larvae, and whirligig and diving beetles. The walk ended with a short stretch along the seahore where some common seashells such as mussels, limpets, barnacles, razorshells and cockles were found. All in all a great example of biodiversity was on display!

Checking out the creepy crawlies on the native willow trees

A young IWT member holding a 'hairy Molly'
or 'Woolly Bear' caterpillar of the Tiger Moth

Looking at some wild flowers right beneath our feet

11th May - Wildflower Walk

The IWT Dublin branch held a guided wildflower walk on Sunday, the 11th May by ecologist and IWT volunteer, Sean Meehan through the mature woodlands at St Catherine's Park, Leixlip.

The walk followed the woodland path and there were plenty of opportunities to stop and talk about the plants and ecology of the site. Among the plants encountered were lords and ladies (or cuckoo pint) and wild garlic (or ramsons). Sean also explained the ecology of the woodland, and talked about the threat posed by some of the invasive species in the woodlands, such as rhododendron ponticum and cherry laurel.

Some wild garlic growing under the trees in St. Catherines