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Irish Examiner
25-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Birds of Ireland: Woodpigeon
Woodpigeon | Colm coille | Columba palumbus A woodpigeon is typically 40-42cm long with a wingspan of 75-80cm. They are a common breeding species here and are found all year round in woodlands, farmland, and in gardens. Woodpigeons are rook-sized — fat-looking with a small head; short, red legs; a pale yellow/pink beak; a pale cream iris; and an overall grey body. Adult woodpigeons have white neck patches/crescents on their wings; and a pink-grey breast — their rump/lower back is a pale blue-grey; and their tail is grey with a black band, more clearly marked below. Birds of Ireland: Woodpigeon Juvenile and immature woodpigeon look like the adults but lack the white on their neck. In flight a woodpigeon appears grey, with the white crescents on their wings visible. They have rapid wingbeats and can be mistaken for bird of prey. In display they show a steep flight upwards, ending in loud wing claps and downward glide. A woodpigeons voice is a loud cooing, sounding like Take two, John, take two; often repeated several times/may start in middle of phrase. Juvenile and immature woodpigeon look like the adults but lack the white on their necks Tip of the Week Like many other things, bird conservation can begin at home. There are many things, at a personal or local level, that you can do to help birds in their daily lives: 1. Make your garden bird-friendly by planting suitable trees and plants such as berry bushes and by providing water, perhaps by making a permanent pond. 2. The plastic rings holding packs of beer or soft drink cans together can get caught around birds' necks and result in their suffering a long, slow, agonising death. Always cut up these plastic rings before throwing them in the bin and if you come across them bring them home or tear them up on the spot. 3. Discarded fishing line is another lethal trap for birds, so always cut the line up into small pieces before disposing of it in a waste bin. Also try to avoid using lead weights. Safe substitutes are available. Lost lead can find its way into Mute Swans and other wildfowl and poison them. 4. Under the Wildlife Acts, hedge-cutting in the Republic of Ireland is illegal between March 1 and August 31 each year, though some exceptions are allowed for, amongst others, reasons of road safety and agricultural operations. Please report any illegal hedge-cutting to the National Parks & Wildlife Service or your local authority. F eatured in Birds of Ireland: A field guide By Jim Wilson, with photographs by Mark Carmody Birds of Ireland: A field guide By Jim Wilson, with photographs by Mark Carmody Jim Wilson is a wildlife writer, broadcaster, tour leader, and former chairman of BirdWatch Ireland. He has been involved in the study and conservation of birds in Ireland for more than 45 years, contributing to several major surveys and international projects. Mark Carmody is an award-winning wildlife photographer, has a PhD in biochemistry and works as a European patent attorney. Read More Birds of Ireland: Chaffinch
Agriland
09-05-2025
- Climate
- Agriland
High fire risk warning now in place
A condition orange fire risk warning is now in place until Monday (May 12) according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). The department said that based on current weather patterns 'a high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist'. DAFM has issued a public warning urging people to 'be prepared, be vigilant and prevent forest fires'. A number of county councils have also appealed to landowners and members of the public to 'exercise caution' and be aware of the potential risks posed by the warmer weather. One of these is Donegal County Council, who said: 'Landowners and members of the public are urged to be vigilant and to report any uncontrolled or unattended fires immediately to the fire service by dialling 999 or 112'. The council has also advised landowners and members of the public that under the Wildlife Acts, 1976 and 2000 it is 'an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated between March 1 and August 31 in any year'. Fire risk According to DAFM current high-pressure dominated weather and warm, dry weather conditions are expected to remain in place over the weekend. 'Elevated fire risks are expected in all areas during this period. 'Fire behaviour and spread rates may be moderated by increasing levels of live growth in upland vegetation, but will also be influenced by low humidity levels and variable light to moderate windspeeds. 'Windspeeds may exceed 20km/h in some areas at times,' it warned. The department also highlighted that because of the weather, higher levels of visitor activity are expected in the countryside this weekend. 'Continued vigilance is warranted in areas with open public access and areas associated with active turf cutting. ' 'Visitors to public recreational areas should cooperate with all fire safety requirements and not light open fires or barbeques in high-risk areas. 'Landowners and managers should remain vigilant to all fire activity and report all suspicious activity to An Garda Siochana,' DAFM has urged. It has also called on rural users to co-operate with 'all requests regarding fire safety, obey all relevant bye-laws and be considerate in parking vehicles so as not to impede access by emergency vehicles'. DAFM has advised forest owners and managers to be well prepared for any possible scenarios. 'The department recommends that forest owners and managers should consider the fire mitigation measures that they can put in place to help prevent loss or damage to forest resources through fire,' it added.
