Wildfires continue to rage in Killarney National Park and Mourne Mountains
The Taoiseach said the Kerry blaze has caused “devastating” damage. By Céimin Burke Sunday 25 Apr 2021, 8:33 AM 2 hours ago 11,945 Views 2 Comments
Image: PA
Image: PA
WILDFIRES CONTINUE TO rage in Killarney National Park in Co Kerry and in the Mourne Mountains in Co Down today.
Thousands of acres of the national park were engulfed in flames yesterday, prompting a massive fire fighting operation involving Kerry Fire Service, park and council staff, gardaí, Civil Defence and the Air Corps
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the damage caused by the blaze in Killarney Park was “devastating to see”.
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National chough survey to help with conservation of rare bird
The red-billed chough is one of our most charismatic birds but one which is probably most familiar to those living along rugged Irish coastlines. The chough is a scarce bird associated with coastal fringes from Donegal to Wexford. Fewer than 850 breeding pairs along our coastline from Inishowen in Donegal to the Saltees in Wexford – they are very much a bird associated with western Atlantic coastal grasslands.
A member of the crow family, choughs are true invertebrate specialists with a striking and delicate decurved red bill (and matching red legs) designed to probe the top layer of short coastal grasses for insects – liking leatherjackets, spiders and, where they can get them the insects associated with cow pats. To a young Chough a cow pat is like a burger! Choughs are totally harmless to livestock and farming activities and are an amazing character of our coastal skies.
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The people of Kerry are being urged to report sightings of a rare bird as a project is underway to help with its conservation.
The red-billed chough bird, a member of the crow family, is most commonly associated with the western Atlantic counties, yet their population is rapidly declining.
For the next two months, KRC Ecological and ALC Nature will be running a national survey of these birds on behalf of National Parks & Wildlife Service all around the Irish coastline.
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Dr Sinéad Cummins, who s leading the project, says the data gathered is very important to protect and enhance the small and precious chough population around Ireland.
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