Yellowhammers find refuge in the wilds of Meath
Taking a
short break from work on a conservation project a few years ago, I sat with
some of my co-workers to take in the sights and sounds of the unique environment
we were in.
That unique
environment was a small Island on the Shannon Callows, just outside Banaghar,
Co. Offaly.
The Island
is a wildlife refuge for the Callows resident and immigrant wetland birds every
Spring. Some of Irelands most endangered wetland birds, Curlew, Lapwing and Red
Shank nest here.
These
red-listed birds have been dramatically affected by Irelands changing climate,
habitat loss and farming practices.
With many of
these birds in drastic decline Birdwatch Ireland took the decision to
permanently ring fence the Island with a predator proof fence. The fence, it
was hoped, would offer some protection to the many chicks, of these wetland birds,
from their natural predators and in turn help stop their decreasing numbers.
The fence is
one of the most advanced of its kind in Europe and has proved to be a big
success preventing the possible extinction of three species of wetland birds.
Every year the
fence suffers from natural wear and tear and needs to be repaired. It was for
this reason I was on the Island and taking a moments rest with my colleagues to
remind ourselves why we were putting our bodies through such pain.
As we sat
chatting about the work ahead, one of the volunteers in the group took out her
smartphone and used an app to identify some of the birdcalls we were hearing. One
of the birdcalls on this app instantly caught my attention. It was so familiar
to my ear I instantly asked what bird it was.
I was
informed that it was a Yellowhammer and just as endanger as the birds we were
working to protect on the Island.
I couldn’t believe
it. This bird was so abundant where I lived, Fairyhouse, Co. Meath the sound of
its call reminded me of summer. A childhood of running through cornfields with
my friends. Climbing on bales of hay to see who was king first. Its call was
the soundtrack to all of these memories and the promise of new ones every
summer.
It was one
of the first occasions I realised how unique my home environment was to me. Such
a familiar bird call, for me, was alien, not just to others on the Island that
day but to many others around the larger Island of Ireland.
When I first
decided I wanted to do something about wildlife conservation, I found my answer
working on the project in Banaghar, Co Offaly. Endangered wildlife for me was on
an Island, on the Shannon Callows. It was out there in the real wilderness,
miles from my house.
I suppose
that was the biggest shock of all as I sat contemplating the beauty of the wilds
around me that day. That such a refuge, such an Island for wildlife
conservation was closer to home than I thought.
- Paul Gallagher -
Birdwatch Ireland Meath will be hosting a talk by Birdwatch Ireland Farmland expert – Alex Copeland on Yellowhammers and Farming in Meath.
Tuesday 7th March, 8pm
Athlumney Road,
Navan, Co Meath
For more events visit our Facebook page or join our mailing list at birdwatchirelandmeath@gmail.com
For more events visit our Facebook page or join our mailing list at birdwatchirelandmeath@gmail.com
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ReplyDelete"A little bit if bread and no cheese" is how the yellowhammer's song goes. Maybe this mnemonic came about is because the people listening to the song were having their lunch in the field at harvest time (and had just plain bread? Anyway the "The NO" cheese bit is ironic considering the support we get from Sheridan's cheesemongers here in Meath over the years? Franck? No cheese?
ReplyDeleteIt is of course:"A little bit OF bread and no cheese" (the other typos above are not so serious) first time blogger.
ReplyDeleteNot to worry. I'm a first time blogger too!
DeleteHi Paul, As a one-time resident of Meath nearyou (we had a 5 acre smallholding and wildlife refuge at GreenPark Bridge from 1973-2009) I,too,recall the summer song of the yellow-hammer. We have moved to a 46 acre holding near Clonegal and are 'farming' it for woldlife. We have been delighted by a growing population of Yellow hammers; last year there were three nesting pairs in our 3km of overgrown hedgerows, and up to 12 have been feeding on organic oats on the ground outside our kitchen window since the beginning of 2017. We use organic oats because we put our hens out of lay by feeding them non-organic proprietary rolled oats last year. Chemical analysis showed that they were contaminated by RoundUp, which is increasingly used to 'dry-off' (kill) conventionally-grown cereals in Ireland prior to combining. We are going to continue offering our local birds organic oats all summer and particularly in the harvest season, in the hope of diverting some from feeding on grain with RoundUp residues.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your yellow hammer project
Paul Dowding
Hi Paul. Thank you for your response. Its farmers like you that make a difference. Without such action I would be referring to my parents memory of this bird. One of the best things about the volunteer work I do for the Meath Branch of Birdwatch Ireland is the ability to connect with people like yourself and highlight how such work ensures this birds survival. Thanks for your support and be sure to attend some of our events if you can!
DeleteWhat app do you use for identifying bird calls?
ReplyDeleteHi Declan. The one referred to in this article was developed by RSPB is the eGuide to British Birds and can be found on Google Play. My phone unfortunately is to basic for apps but there are a few on Google Play that do the same thing with regard to bird calls.
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