27-05-2025
Mannok Kestrel Cam reveals five new arrivals to quarry
MANNOK was thrilled to welcome five recently-hatched kestrel chicks to the nest in a nook in one of the company's quarries.
In April, Mannok relaunched Ireland's first Kestrel Cam for the fifth year in a row, aiming to raise awareness and interest in the common kestrel.
The population of the kestrel is declining in Ireland, and the species is now red-listed, meaning it is at risk of extinction.
Through Kestrel Cam - a live-streaming webcam accessible via Mannok's website – viewers have a rare opportunity to observe a breeding pair that has returned to nest and raise their young in the company's quarry.
This kestrel pair featured in Kestrel Cam has been nesting in the same nook in Mannok's quarry face for the last seven years.
Early this year, the pair of birds returned, and by the end of April, the female kestrel was incubating five eggs in the nest.
Mannok was delighted to report that in early May, all five eggs hatched, and it was fascinating to be able to watch as the mother fed the chicks and kept them warm while the father foraged for food that he brought back to the nest.
As the chicks grow, they begin to explore the entrance of the nest as they get ready to fledge and take their first flight. Mannok Environmental Manager, Stephen Linden, said that the Kestrel Cam provides a "unique insight" into the birds.
'Through our sustainability strategy, Mannok has committed to the long-term environmental sustainability of the region we live and work in," Mr. Linden said.
'As part of this, we have put together a substantial biodiversity programme. The development and enhancement of our surrounding natural environment is a priority for us, and we have implemented a range of initiatives to nurture and positively impact nature.
'Kestrel Cam provides a unique opportunity to study and gain brilliant insights into red-listed kestrels. This is the fifth year of the project, and as always, there has been superb engagement online and has again helped to raise public awareness of these incredible birds of prey.
'It's amazing to see that even in the heart of a working quarry, nature can not only survive, but thrive.'
