Latest news with #AnneGuichard
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Volunteers help endangered bird make stunning return with unexpected planting strategy: 'It is lovely to see the result'
Only a handful of endangered corncrakes return each year to Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland, but volunteers are working hard to increase their number by growing nettles to give them cover, the BBC reported. Corncrakes — mottled, yellow-brown birds with dark streaks on their backs and round bodies — are native to the UK and Ireland, migrating to Africa in the winter. They're known for the male's rattling mating call. Once widespread, their coverage in the UK has been greatly reduced to only part of Scotland and Northern Ireland. They are endangered and classified as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5. The population is so small that the three to five breeding males that have appeared on Rathlin Island over the last five years, and the two to three females per male, are a key population worth protecting. While one species of bird may not seem hugely important to the world, every species we lose is one we can never get back. It's impossible to predict what impact that might have on the broader ecosystem — like when killing wolves in the Yellowstone area damaged its soil, greenery, and surrounding farming ecology, and returning wolves to the area restored it. One barrier to breeding for corncrakes is that they're particularly shy. They need cover to nest in, and Rathlin Island doesn't have enough, which is where volunteer work and nettles come in. The nettle rhizomes are harvested all over Northern Ireland and then pressure-washed to remove any unwanted species that might be tagging along. They're bundled and shipped to Rathlin Island, where volunteers plant them in tilled ground around the edges of a cultivated field. There, they will take root and, thanks to the quick growth rate of this species, form tall and thick cover where the corncrakes can hide when they return from their migration. "Next season there will be nettles growing and hopefully corncrake will choose the place to breed," said Anne Guichard, a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds conservation officer, per the BBC. This ongoing project has already produced breeding grounds for the birds. "It is lovely to see the result and realize how productive nettles are," said Glenise Morgan, a participant from a nettle dig in Ballycastle that helped supply the project, per the BBC. "I look forward to hearing that we have more corncrakes in the area." Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nettles planted at Rathlin in bid to save endangered bird
Multiple tonne bags of nettles from across Northern Ireland have been shipped to Rathlin Island in an effort to support the endangered corncrake bird. The nettle rhizomes have proven to be a success with the secretive bird as they provide tall vegetation for it to hide in when it returns from wintering in Africa. The annual dig and planting is part of the Giving Corncrake a Home Project which is ran by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Despite the corncrake population declining since the 1970s, there have been three to five calling males spotted on the island over the last five years. From October to February, volunteers take part in digging up nettle rhizomes across Northern Ireland. Volunteers pressure wash the nettles to remove any unwanted seeds, soil or invertebrates, before placing them in tonne bags and taking them to Rathlin Island. In preparation for their arrival, the ground around the edge of a field on the island is ploughed - or tilled - so the nettle roots can be spread. Anne Guichard, a RSPB conservation officer, explained that rotten silage bales are then put on top of the nettle roots to "act as fertiliser". "Next season there will be nettles growing and hopefully corncrake will choose the place to breed," she added. Liam McFaul, an RSPB warden on Rathlin Island, said the project has "encouraged the corncrake to come back and breed". "Corncrakes are an endangered species they are on the red list, if care is not taken they will be totally extinct," he said. "We can't stand by and imagine another generation that will grow up to think: 'Why did somebody not do something?'" When the corncrake returns, tall vegetation is in scarce supply so nettles are an ideal habitat due to their fast growing nature. "They scurry into the nettles and hide straightway, and then they start calling for a mate and sometimes the first brood could be in the nettle bed," Mr McFaul added. Corncrakes typically have two broods per breeding season and will also nest in the centre of the field once the grass grows. Mr McFaul said later in the season the grass is cut "sensitively" and "slowly" from the centre out so the birds can escape. "We leave a wide area unmown at the edge of the field including the nettle beds as that late cover is equally as important for them growing up and preparing for their migration back to Africa," he added. Fiona Robinson, a RSPB volunteer co-ordinator said they are aiming "to create a sustainable population of corncrake" on Rathlin Island. "In two years time these [nettles] will be at a lovely height and they [corncrakes] will have a great home," she said. "Every male is going to have two or three females, that number has been steady and we are hoping that it is going to have a steady increase. "We are trying to make it to ten, so we could say we have a sustainable population on the island." Glenise Morgan participated in the nettle dig at Watertop Farm in Ballycastle during January. "It is lovely to see the result and realise how productive nettles are," she said. "I look forward to hearing that we have more corncrakes in the area." Shaun Boyd is a retired dairy farmer who participated in the RSPB project. "Sixty years ago whenever I was a wee boy on the farm with my father you would have walked the farm and you could have seen thirty or forty different species of birds on a Saturday evening," Mr Boyd explained. "Whenever I retired ten years ago I had time to look at nature and listen to nature, and from then I became interested in it again. "Being involved in nature is sort of born and bred inside me." Corncrakes are classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5. This secretive bird gives a rasping rattle for its breeding call - mostly heard at night, sometimes for hours on end. They prefer to nest in meadows and hay fields in areas with lots of tall plant cover, where they spend most of their time hidden from view. They are summer visitors to NI and parts of Scotland, wintering in central and southern Africa. Corncrakes are round-bodied and long-necked, like a water rail, but with a short, stubby bill. The plumage is mostly yellowish-brown, with darker streaks on the back and pale bars on the flanks. There are grey patches on the throat and above the eye. Nettles helping to bring back island's corncrakes Woody the dog switches detection skills to save puffins
