Controlled burning demonstration
Cork Wildfire Co-operative Group, of which RaptorLIFE is a partner, organised a vegetation management and controlled burning demonstration at Millstreet Country Park. The demonstration was conducted to show landowners how to burn safely for the sustainable management of our uplands. RaptorLIFE were proud to participate in this initiative and plan on putting into practice some of the techniques we...
Inspiring Environmental Awareness in Our Communities
Check out the ESAI website for an article on RaptorLIFE in the 2017 ESAI Spring newsletter http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=4f5195295381516c8d91f2230...
Introducing Fionn (male, tag no. 160250)
This male was tagged on 7/7 at a site in the Ballyhoura Hills, North Cork, at approx. 28 days old. It’s nest site was in dense heather/gorse among 2nd rotation conifers, quite close to a used track high up the mountainside. This male was one of a brood of 3 that fledged successfully from the nest. After fledging he remained in the nest area for some weeks when he could be heard calling/begging...
Introducing Fraoch (female, tag no. 160251)
This female was tagged on the 15th of July at an approximate age of 24-26 days. The nest was located at a traditional bramble and rush site in the Mullaghareirk Mountains in Co. Cork. Monitored by both staff and volunteers as part of IRD Duhallow’s RaptorLIFE project, the chick was in a brood of 2 and was the heaviest of all the 10 chicks tagged this year. The nest was located in a firebreak...
Not every chick will make it….
As part of this research 10 hen harrier chicks were tagged from ten different nests within the Slieve Blooms, Ballyhouras, Knockmealdown and Mullaghareirks mountains. Recent analysis of the incoming tracking data shows that that at least five of these birds are alive and well. Unfortunately, some of the tags are recording little to no activity (movement) indicating that these birds may have died...
Tracking Irish hen harriers - tagging
Studying Irish hen harriers can be challenging. Many of us have taken part in the most recent national survey (2015) and enjoyed some great days out, perhaps the first sky-dancing male of the season or finding a pair at a new site or the first food-pass and female returning to a nest site. All this helps to give us a more or less complete picture of the status of Irish hen harriers and population...
Welcome to Hen Harrier Tracker
RaptorLIFE have been busy this summer monitoring hen harrier – a big thank you to all the volunteers who gave up many hours of their time to help out! The season culminated with a total of ten chicks satellite tagged, with four of those from the Duhallow region. This is a joint project between RaptorLIFE, the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Irish Raptor Study Group. All three...
Freshwater workshop - 11am Saturday 13th August 2016
FREE EVENT - Led by Freshwater Ecologist Dr. David McCormick When: Saturday 13th August 2016 - 11am to 4pm Where: IRD Duhallow, James O'Keeffe Institute, Newmarket, Co.Cork - 11am Presentation on Freshwater Ecology - 12pm lunch provided - 12:30 Interactive fieldtrip to investigate native fish and freshwater insects REGISTRATION REQUIRED: If interested please contact the IRD...
The Amazing Swift Talk - 7:30pm, Thursday 23rd June 2016
The Duhallow Birdwatching group and IRD Duhallow RaptorLIFE are hosting an information Seminar on Thursday 23rd June entitled “The Amazing Swift” with guest Speaker Lynda Huxley. The Swift is an enigmatic bird that comes to our towns and villages from May through to August. They are truly amazing birds as they fly for most of their lives, only landing to breed. When a fledgling swift leaves...
DuhallowLIFE in the papers
Over the duration of the project, DuhallowLIFE has featured in many newspaper reports. Here is a link to download all those newspaper clippings. It's a big file (60MB) as we've been very active in disseminating information on the project
European LIFE conference on Nature Conservation in Duhallow
So finally as we are coming to the end of the IRD DuhallowLIFE project and the beginning of a new EU LIFE project; RaptorLIFE. To celebrate these two momentous occasions we recently held a two day project conference in Newmarket. Co Cork. The first day (May21st) of this two day conference marked the end of the four and half year EU LIFE project, known as DuhallowLIFE. This project,...
International EU LIFE Conference - NATURA 2000 Day
IRD Duhallow cordially invites you to attend the International EU LIFE conference celebrating hands on community participation in nature conservation, on the 21st and 22nd of May 2015. The conference marks the end of the current LIFE project and the commencement of a new RaptorLIFE project. There will be a wide range of interesting speakers including experts from Ireland, the UK, Belgium...
Conservation Plan for the upper River Blackwater SAC
A key action of the Duhallow LIFE project is to put together a Conservation Plan for the upper portion of the River Blackwater Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and we are looking for input from the public and interested stakeholders to ensure that this plan is relevant, captures the main issues and most importantly provides a practical road map for the conservation of the SAC. Where possible we...
LIFE and Freshwater Fish
New EU LIFE Freshwater Fish Report A new document “LIFE and Freshwater Fish” has just been published by the European Commission. The document provides an important update on Freshwater Fish communities and outlines Freshwater Fish conservation projects funded under the EU LIFE programme to date. Did you know that “Freshwater fish are one of the most diverse groups of vertebrate...
Launch of new EPA funded Community Water Management Research
Managing our water is essential to support life and protect our ecosystems. A new EPA funded research project was launced at IRD Duhallow which aims to develop and transfer knowledge regarding how we as a community can manage our own water resources for everyones benefit. The project official title is ‘Delivering Integrated Water Management Through the Bottom-up Approach: A Critical Analysis’...
IRD DuhallowLIFE present: Integrated Catchment Management
Last Thursday (06/11/14) TRAP Project (INTERREG IVc:Cork County Council) and the EPA (Catchments) hosted a workshop to showcase Integrated Catchment Management and practices developed in particular by the Rivers Trusts in the UK. The Duhallow LIFE Project was invited to speak at the event about our own catchment management initiative for the Allow River Catchment and our experiences to date....
Invasive Species Workshop highlights the need for urgent action
Urgent action is required to remove and prevent the spread of invasive plant species like Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam before it is too late. These species are spreading rampantly along roadsides and riverbanks of both Cork City and County, damaging the built and natural environment. Over 60 people participated in a practical workshop on alien invaders in...
DuhallowLIFE present at MulkearLIFE end of project conference
IRD Duhallow was delighted to be invited to present at the MulkearLIFE end of project conference last Thursday in the Castle Oaks Hotel, Castleconnel, just outside Limerick. It was a great opportunity to see first hand the fruits of all of the hard work and effort put in by Inland Fisheries Ireland and their partners (NPWS, OPW and Limerick County Council) and coordinated by the MulkearLIFE team...
Pearl mussels in Peril LIFE project visit IRD DuhallowLIFE
Last Tuesday we had the pleasure of hosting a visit by the UK Pearls in Peril LIFE+ project. The Pearls in Peril is a LIFE+ NATURE project co-funded by 14 organisations across Scotland, England and Wales. The aim of the project is to safeguard important populations of freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in the UK. A total of 21 rivers across Britain are involved,...
IRD Duhallow LIFE feature on Radio Kerry
IRD Duhallow and the LIFE project were recently featured on August 23rd on the Saturday Supplement (Frank Lewis) show, Radio Kerry (http://media.radiokerry.ie/mediamanager/embed/player/podcasts/38/item/27369) This was a fun day out for all the crew, as Frank put us through our paces, profiling the culture, history and ecology of the SPA/SAC at the source of the River Blackwater. This area will...
Biodiversity Camp comes to LIFE
This year and for the first time, IRD Duhallow is running a Biodiversity Camp for children. Project scientist, Kieran Murphy, of LIFE project will lend his expertise and be on hand to guide the children through this exciting event. An event which will see the wildlife of Duhallow come to LIFE. With a particular emphasis on the aquatic environment, children will be brought though the underwater...
LET NO PLANT GO TO SEED! Help us remove the Himalayan balsam
Yes we are asking the public for their help to let no plant go to seed! We are now into our fourth year of this project and we have made dramatic reductions in the extent of Himalayan balsam infestations along the River Allow and Dalua. With the assistance of participants on the Rural Social Scheme, IRD Duhallow staff and volunteers and the local Kanturk Trout Angling Club, the plant has...
School kids go wild for rivers
Glorious sunshine greeted the end of school term this year for the many students attending national schools in Duhallow. And how fitting the weather was for one of the more fun elements of the LIFE project. Each year during the months of May and June, field excursions are organised to bring the school children closer to nature. For the many students who took part in these field excursions it...
River Allow landowners welcome announcement of new Agri-scheme to target Freshwater Pearl Mussel
Last Wednesday and hot on the heels of our very successful launch of the River Allow Catchment management initiative, the IRD Duhallow LIFE+ project hosted a day long meeting for landowners. This meeting was to bring farmers up to speed on the project todate and also to inform them on the River Allow Catchment management initiative. As with the previous Wednesday, the weather...
Preparing for afterLIFE: Catchment management for the River Allow
Yesterday saw the launch of an exciting initiative for the River Allow and its catchment. The initiative is a joint venture and partnership between the IRD DUhallowLIFE+ project and the South Western Regional Authority INTERREGIV funded TRAP project. The aim is simple; to set up a catchment management group for the Allow.The River Allow catchment is a sub-basin of the...
Dr Fran Igoe talk to Frank Lewis on the Saturday Suppliment
Listen to Dr Fran Igoe talk to Frank Lewis on the Saturday Supplement, with guest speakers, on the wildlife and environmental work in Duhallow (April 26th 2014) Listen Now
IRD Duhallow's work on Biodiversity recognised
Recently IRD Duhallow were invited to present at an international meeting on biodiversity and LEADER and showcase work carried out to help biodiversity in Duhallow. We were delighted to be able to facilitate and provide examples where the LIFE project has contributed at a practical level to the furthering of biodiversity in Duhallow but working closely with our colleagues in IRD...
IRD Duhallow LIFE Project on Nuacht TG4 (Jan 11 2013)
IRD Duhallow LIFE Project on Nuacht TG4 (Jan 11 2013)
IRD Duhallow and Inland Fisheries Ireland to eradicate invasive Himalayan balsam from the River Allow
An EU-funded project to eradicate an invasive plant which is eroding land and putting important fish habitats in a north Cork river at risk was launched today by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan. Himalayan Balsam, which was introduced from India as an ornamental plant for its attractive pink flowers, has spread from gardens to roadsides and is now causing serious problems on river banks...
Irish Times 23rd December 2011 - Study aims to boost otter population
A NEW study on the number of otters in north Cork will provide the basis for a series of measures aimed at encouraging an increase in the otter population across a wide area. The study by IRD Duhallow is part of a €1 million EU Life+ funded project aimed at increasing otter numbers on the Allow, Dalua and Brogeen tributaries of the Blackwater. Read Full Article at The Irish Times
