Tuesday, November 28, 2006

20 birds of conservation concern

Some of the birds of conservation concern in Ireland according to the BoCCI or IUCN Red List are listed below. Their preferred habitat and geographic distribution is also noted.

BoCCI Red list

  1. Common Scoter (lowland lakes, mainly found in west)
  2. Grey Partridge (farmland and bog, localised)
  3. Hen Harrier (moorland, forestry, upland, mainly in south)
  4. Corncrake (farmland, localised)
  5. Roseate Tern (coastal + islands only)
  6. Red-necked Phalarope (coastal marsh, north-west Mayo only)
  7. Nightjar (upland + diverse, localised)
  8. Barn Owl (widespread, buildings)
  9. Twite (upland and coastal, mainly west)
  10. Lapwing (farmland)
  11. Curlew (farmland)
  12. Ring Ouzel (upland)
  13. Yellowhammer (farmland)
  14. Chough (coastal cliffs and caves, mainly west and south coasts)

BoCCI Amber list

  1. Golden Plover (upland)
  2. Little Tern (coast and wetlands)

On the IUCN Red List, but not on BoCCI list

  1. Quail
  2. Red Grouse
  3. Black-necked Grebe (extinct in Ireland)
  4. Corn Bunting (coastal scrub, probably extinct as breeding species)
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The island of ireland

Once upon a time, and for 15000 years, ice a mile high blanketed Ireland. When the lingering Ice Age finally released and the Irish ice departed it left a landscape scoured. Across land bridges linking Ireland, Britain and mainland Europe plants and animals arrived to colonise the new lowlands, mountains and valleys. The world’s ice continued to melt, the sea levels to rise, and some 8000 years ago Ireland became the island we now know, accounting for just 0.01% of the world's total land area and the most westerly point of Europe.

Though at Alaskan latitudes, the country's climate is tempered, due partly to the neighbouring waters of the Gulf Stream and partly the prevailing southwesterlies that veering and backing make landfall on our sodden coast. These offerings from the Atlantic mean it is never too hot, never too cold. But without doubt it is wet. Rain lingers year round, never far away, though is most frequent in winter, the western counties and, inevitably, on the day of your parade.