Latest news with #McFaul
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
BBC News
22-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Rathlin Island: Nettle roots arrive to support corncrakes
Multiple tonne bags of nettles from across Northern Ireland have been shipped to Rathlin Island in an effort to support the endangered corncrake 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 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 pressure wash the nettles to remove any unwanted seeds, soil or invertebrates, before placing them in tonne bags and taking them to Rathlin 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 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. 'They are on the red list' 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 typically have two broods per breeding season and will also nest in the centre of the field once the grass 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. 'Sustainable population' aim 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." 'Listen to nature' 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." How to identify a corncrake Corncrakes are classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern secretive bird gives a rasping rattle for its breeding call - mostly heard at night, sometimes for hours on 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 are summer visitors to NI and parts of Scotland, wintering in central and southern 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.
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rogers absence would be 'massive' for Derry
Ulster SFC preliminary round - Donegal v DerryVenue: MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey Date: Sunday, 6 April Throw-in: 14:00 BST Coverage: Watch live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website; text updates & in-play clips on BBC Sport website Chrissy McKaigue says Brendan Rogers being ruled out of Derry's Ulster Championship opener against "overwhelming favourites" Donegal would be a massive blow for the Oak has been named at full-back for Sunday's Ballybofey contest which will be live on the live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website but his fitness has been in some doubt after he was forced to miss Derry's final two Allianz Football League games as they eventually suffered Tally's struggling side are already minus former All-Stars Gareth McKinless and Conor McCluskey in addition to goalkeeper Odhran Lynch and Anton Tohill because of McFaul, Lachlan Murray and Niall Loughlin have also been bothered by knocks in recent weeks although McFaul and Murray have been named in the starting team with Loughlin included in the Lynch ruled out, goalkeeper Neill McNicholl is one of three championship debutants alongside Martin Bradley and Dan Higgins, who will partner Conor Glass in midfield."It [Rogers being ruled out) would be massive and possibly a game definer," said McKaigue over the fitness concerns in relation to his Slaughtneil club-mate."If Donegal play Michael Murphy from the start which you would imagine on the edge of the square, Brendan is either going to be needed there or he's going to be needed to play against a lot of potential Donegal midfield pairings, Ciaran Thompson, Michael Langan, Hugh McFadden and the list goes on."Donegal are very strong aerially and Brendan will be needed at some end of the pitch."McKaigue helped Derry to back-to-back Ulster titles in 2022 and 2023 and last season's Division One title but announced his inter-county retirement in slump was started when Donegal ambushed them in their Ulster Championship opener at Celtic Park last April and given their drop to Division Two, amid their injury crisis, few are backing them to upset Donegal at MacCumhaill Park."You can label it as excuses or whatever but there is a very simple reality that Derry are missing a lot of players this year due to injury and unavailability which hasn't given Paddy Tally an easy start," added McKaigue."[And] it seems from the outside that Jim McGuinness has methodically planned his way right to this point where he did his work early in the league and primed himself for a massive performance in the first round of the championship."Donegal: (tba)Derry: N McNicholl; D Baker, B Rogers, M Bradley; C Doherty, P McGrogan, E McEvoy; C Glass, D Higgins; E Doherty, Paul Cassidy, C McFaul; N Toner, S McGuigan, L B McKinless, N Loughlin, P McGurk, D Cassidy, B McCarron, M Doherty, C Devlin, C McMonagle, R Mulholland, C Diamond, K Quinn.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-U.S. Ambassador To Russia Names The 'Giant Winner' In Trump-Vance Clash With Zelenskyy
Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul on Friday named the 'one giant winner' in President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance's fiery exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 'This is Vladimir Putin,' said McFaul, who served as a U.S. ambassador under President Barack Obama, in an interview with MSNBC's Katie Phang. 'And the real question now is, 'Was that by design or was that a mistake?' Because sometimes when I hear President Trump, I think he's doing everything he can to appease Putin and that is not in America's national interest.' McFaul's take reflected those shared byright-wing figures who predicted that the Russian dictator would benefit from the contentious White House meeting. The clash in the Oval Office follows weeks of Trump being increasingly critical of Zelenskyy and echoing Putin's talking points. Trump recently referred to the Zelenskyy as a 'dictator without elections' and falsely claimed that he 'started' the war in Ukraine, which was sparked by Russia's invasion of the country three years ago. McFaul, earlier in the interview, told Phang that he's never seen such a 'colossal failure of American diplomacy' as Zelenskyy left the meeting without signing a deal to provide the U.S. with access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals. He added that the agreement could've set the preconditions to a 'genuine' negotiation for a peace deal on the war but the meeting instead became a 'shouting match.' McFaul told Phang that he wasn't sure if the blowup was an 'ambush on purpose but it sure felt that way,' adding that it's 'unheard of' for the vice president to ever speak at such meetings. 'Maybe it played well with their base but it's not going to play well with the American people and that's where I think Trump needs to pump the brakes a bit,' said McFaul, who pointed to polling showing that most Americans don't trust Putin. Trump Expected To Sign Order Designating English As Official Language Of The U.S. Jasmine Crockett Masterfully Responds To Whether She's Intimidated By Trump And Musk Ukrainians Rally Around Zelenskyy After Trump Berates Him In Oval Office
Russia Today
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ex-US Russia envoy wishes Trump would stop ‘relying on RT'
Former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul has slammed President Donald Trump for what he called an over-reliance on RT with regard to the Ukraine conflict. His comments came after Trump criticized Kiev for allowing the conflict with Moscow to fester for years. On Tuesday, McFaul, a longtime Democrat and Trump critic who served as the US ambassador under former President Barack Obama from 2012 to 2014, blasted the US leader over his stance on the Ukraine conflict. 'I wish President Trump and his team could talk to these Ukrainian soldiers and not just rely on RT for their information about [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's invasion of their country,' he wrote on X, posting a picture of himself standing alongside Ukrainian service members, captioned with 'Glory to Ukraine.' While often described as an architect of the US-Russia 'reset' prior to the Western-backed coup in Kiev in 2014, McFaul has since taken a hawkish stance on Russia, pushing for harsh sanctions and international isolation of the country. McFaul has faced criticism from Russian officials, who accused him of 'fomenting revolution' by offering support to opposition figures within the country in the 2010s. In 2016, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called McFaul an 'anti-example' of how an ambassador to a foreign country should behave while in office. The former ambassador's remarks come in the wake of recent high-level US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, which excluded Ukrainian and EU representatives. Both Russian and US diplomats touted the engagement as highly productive while agreeing to continue work to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Following the meeting, Trump signaled that he is 'very disappointed' with Kiev for failing to resolve the conflict with Russia despite having ample opportunity to do so. Earlier, he said Ukraine is highly unlikely to join NATO, while suggesting that Kiev should consider holding elections. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, whose presidential term expired last May, has refused to hold elections, citing martial law. Russia considers Zelensky illegitimate and recognizes the parliament and its speaker as the only legitimate authority in Ukraine.
