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www.naturesweb.ie© 2012 Sherkin Island Marine Station & its licensors. All rights reserved.

Issue No. 26 Summer 2012

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The JoyThe JoyThe JoyThe Joyof Fishing!of Fishing!of Fishing!of Fishing!

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For the Loveof Birds!Eleven-year-old Declan Cairney from

County Galway loves raptors - he likesthem so much that he has written andillustrated a book specifically about them. The book is called“Raptors - A Pocket Guide to Birds of Prey and Owls”. Raptors are birds of preyand are very much in the news lately, particularly the White-tailed Eagles thathave nested in Co. Clare (see page 11).Declan has plenty of first-hand experience and knowledge about these birds,having spent months working with raptors in the Burren Birds of Prey Centre.

Falcons, hawks and eagles are Declan’s first love, but helikes all birds and nature in general.It is very exciting to see someone so enthusiastic aboutnature. Best of luck to Declan and hopefully he will sell lotsof copies of his book!“Raptors – A Pocket Guide to Birds of Prey and Owls” can bepurchased directly from Declan Cairney, Campsie House,Caherglassaun, Gort, Co. Galway. The price is €7.50 plus postage(€2.70 for 1, €5 for 2, €7.50 upto 10). ISBN: 978-1-908477-76-7

Editor’s Page

www.naturesweb.ie Summer 2012

What to do:Heat 2 tablespoons oil in frying plan. Season troutand quickly sear/fry trout for 3 minutes each side.Remove.Tomato Coulis:Cook tomatoes for 3 minutes.Continue to cook, adding diced butter little by little.Season and add a pinch of sugar.Garlic Vinaigrette:In a small saucepan mix all ingredients except onion,courgette and herbs.Boil for 30 seconds and then remove from heat andallow to infuse for 10 minutes.Strain, check taste and add onion,courgette, thyme and fennel. Serves 4

What you need:

• 4 x 170g / 6oz fillets of trout• Salt and freshly milled black pepper• Olive oil

Tomato Coulis:• 4 tomatoes - skinned, seeded & blended• 25g / 1oz butter - diced• Pinch castor sugar

Garlic Vinaigrette:• 2 tablespoons olive oil• 2 cloves garlic - crushed• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar• 2 tablespoons cold water• Juice of half lemon• 4 tablespoons very finely chopped

onion & courgette• Chopped thyme and fennel• 1 bay leaf

Brought to you by BIM.For more fish recipes visit www.bim.ie

Recipe created by Ciarán Carberry, Institute of Technology, Tallaght

SSSSEARED EARED EARED EARED TTTTROUTROUTROUTROUTWITH WITH WITH WITH TTTTOMATO OMATO OMATO OMATO CCCCOULIS OULIS OULIS OULIS & G& G& G& GARLIC ARLIC ARLIC ARLIC VVVVINAIGRETTEINAIGRETTEINAIGRETTEINAIGRETTE

© 2012 Sherkin Island Marine Station & its licensors. All rights reserved.

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*You can substitute salmon or arctic char

Dear Reader,

Welcome everyone to theSummer 2012 issue ofNature’s Web. Angling andwaterways feature in thisissue. Mark Corps, AnglingAdvisor with InlandFisheries Ireland gives usan insight into his workingday as well as giving lots ofinformation to those whomight want to take upangling as a hobby. Anglingis a great pastime and issuitable for people of allages (see page 15). We alsohear from Richard Creaghwho tells us about wildlifeon the Owenduff River,which flows throughBallycroy National Park.Check out nature newsfrom around the world onpage 11 and enjoy a gigglewith the jokes on page 13.We would love to hear yourviews and comments andsuggestions for futurearticles. Have a good read!

Susan

Email: [email protected]: www.naturesweb.ieEditor:Susan Murphy WickensLayout and Design:Susan Murphy WickensPhotographs & Clipart:Copyright © 2012 SherkinIsland Marine Station & itslicensors. All rights reserved.Foreign Correspondent:Michael Ludwig

© Sherkin Island MarineStation 2012

Welcome to theSummer Edition of

Nature’s Web!

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Golden Eagle(Illustration by Declan Cairney)

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TTTT he word ‘swift’ means “Moving fast, or able to movequickly”. The bird called the Swift is very well named – it

is certainly able to move quickly. In normal flight, theyaverage around 50 miles per hour and can quite easily put ona little burst to 60-ish if needed. That maybe doesn’t soundthat fast if you’re travelling in a car, but when you’re lessthan 20 cm long with no ‘engine’ as such, it’s quite a feat.They quite literally live in the air – when it comes to bedtime,they simply spiral up a few thousand feet, switch off andgrab a couple of hours sleep.


Bird Life


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Saving the SwiftsSwifts have tiny feet and if onehappens to land on the ground,it will stay there, helpless,unless someone finds it and re-launches it in the air. The onlytime they come to land is tonest and because of thisessential part of life, Swifts are now facing bigtrouble. Put simply, modern buildings and thedemolition of old, unused warehouses and factoriesis leaving them with fewer and fewer choices whenit comes to finding a place to build a nest. All thatis needed is a three inch crack in a wall or a gapunderneath a roofing tile, but these are becomingharder and harder to find. However, not all is lostand it is not too late to help Swifts rebuild theirpopulations. In The Low Countries (Holland,Belgium and Luxembourg), it is now illegal to builda new house without providing a small cavity orhollowed out brick, just large enough for a Swiftfamily to be raised. Although Ireland is somewhatbehind in these forward thinking ways, thesituation here is slowly improving and there aretwo websites dedicated to helping Swifts in theirplight on www.swiftconservation.org andwww.saveourswifts.co.uk Both give advice on allways of helping Swifts and give information on helpavailable to those wanting to help. In return forour efforts, we could see the return of screamingparties of Swifts to our towns and villages (theymake the most incredible screaming sounds in Juneand early August). And, perhaps best of all, theyeat flies, including mosquitoes (but not bees). Thatsounds like a fair deal doesn’t it?

A Summer VisitorA Summer VisitorA Summer VisitorA Summer VisitorSwifts are summer visitors to Ireland, spendingtheir winter somewhere south of the equator,though exactly where, no-one really knows.Being highly mobile, they go where their foodgoes, and as they feed on flies, that can cover avery large area indeed. The first Irish Swiftsbegin to arrive in late April and at a glance caneasily be mistaken for an all black Swallow.Unlike Swallows, however, they have swept backwings which give them a boomerang appearance. Another difference is theirpreference for towns and built up areas, whereas as Swallows tend to prefera more rural environment, nesting in old barns and outhouses.

FACT FILE:FACT FILE:FACT FILE:FACT FILE:Colour: Blackish-brown witha pale throat.Length: 16-17 cm.Diet: Insects, which theycatch while in flight.Habitat: Nests in roofs andold buildings. A summervisitor to Ireland from Mayto August.

The body of the swallow(above) is lighter in colour andit has a longer forked tail.

The SwiftThe SwiftThe SwiftThe SwiftScientific Name: Apus apusIrish Name: Gabhlán gaoithe

By Julian Wyllie

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Barnacles – A Medical Breakthrough?A series of experiments by the ZoologyDepartmental NUI Galway are looking at thenatural super glues used by barnacles to attachthemselves to rocks or floating objects. Ifthese experiments are successful, then we'll

know a lot more about creating anatural superglue that can beused to mend bones in humansurgery or, on the other hand,how to create ways of

preventingbarnaclesclinging toships andlowering theirfuel efficiency.

Aquatic Life



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STICKING AROUNDSTICKING AROUNDSTICKING AROUNDSTICKING AROUNDThe Wonderful World of Barnacles

Barnacles – A Subject of Studyfor Charles DarwinThe first person to fully study and classifybarnacles was the world-famous biologistCharles Darwin, who published a series ofscientific papers on them in 1851 and 1854,before he published his groundbreaking book– ‘On the Origin of Species’. Some historianshave suggested that Darwin studiedbarnacles as a way of putting off work on hisgreat study of evolution. But it has beenshown more recently that he studiedbarnacles at the recommendation of hisfriend Joseph Dalton Hooker so that hecouldunderstand atleast onespecies ofanimal in depth.This was inorder to testhis theoriesabout naturalselection andthe naturalworld in general.

Barnacles – Upside Down Crabs?Barnacles, like many insects, belong to that vast group of animals,the phylum Arthropoda. Within this, they are members of the samesub-phylum as crabs and lobsters. Indeed, a barnacle may beconsidered to be a crab that, instead of using its legs to run aroundand hunt for things to eat, has chosen the easier option of lying on

its back and waving its legs in thewater to trap passing morsels of food.To protect themselves, barnacles havedeveloped external shells made of sixcalcareous plates and two moveableplates, which protect the animal insidewhen it is not feeding.

Barnacles – the Curse of Pirates Everywhere!As well as bad food, scurvy and the risk of sudden death inbloodthirsty battles, pirates everywhere had to deal with the threatof barnacles. Like seaweed, tube worms and other encrusting marinelife, barnacles cling to the bottoms of ships and slow them down,making them easier for the authorities to catch. To keep barnacles atbay, pirates would regularly run their ships aground and scrape thebottoms clean. Richer navies would go to more elaborate measures,like sheathing the bottoms of their ships in copper, which is toxic tomarine life.

CaptainCockle’sLogWelcome aboard shipmates!

Together, we’ll be taking alook at the world’s greatestnatural resource – the sea.

Copyright John Joyce 2012

www.captaincockle.com

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Animal Life

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PygmyPygmyPygmyPygmyShrewShrewShrewShrew

What arethey like?

Pygmy Shrews are not rodents,like rats and mice are. They aremore closely related to moles.The Pygmy Shrew has a fur-covered body, which keeps itwarm in the winter months and along tail, relative to the size ofits body. It has a pointed,whiskered snout, small eyes andears that are partly hidden byits fur.The Pygmy Shrew makes a veryhigh-pitched squeak, which mostpeople cannot hear, though somechildren can!

FACT FILELength: 7-10cmWeight: 3-6gramsColour: Dark brown and pale grey underneath.Habitat: The edges of woodland, hedgerows, bogland, gardensand meadows.Diet: Lots of creepy crawlies, such as flies, beetles, spiders,earwigs and small worms.Young: It has 2 to 3 litters per year, with about 6 young eachtime. The young are born blind and weigh only 0.25g!

The smallest mammal in Ireland is the Pygmy Shrew. It is sosmall it only weighs 3 to 6 grams, depending on the time of year.

Shrews live alone, with each having its own territory. They are veryaggressive towards each other and will fight other shrews if theymeet. They live on the edges of woodland, in hedgerows, bogland,meadows and gardens where they search day and night for food. Tokeep their bodies warm and in order not to starve, they must eat theirown body weight in food every day. Considering they are so small, itdoesn’t seem a lot but it is when you compare it to the amount of foodlarger animals eat. They have a very short life-span, living only forabout 13 months.Pygmy Shrews are insectivores, which means their diet is mostlyinsects. They love all creepy crawlies - flies, beetles, earwigs, spidersand small worms - but they are so small that earthworms are too bigfor most of them to eat!

Scientific Name: Sorex minutusIrish Name: Dallóg fhraoigh

TheirEnemiesThe Pygmy Shrew has a few enemiessuch as foxes, owls and stoats. Domesticcats also catch them but rarely eatthem because the shrew has very strongscent glands that most predators don’tlike. Humans rarely see Pygmy Shrewsand are not a threat to them, though ina roundabout way humans may killshrews by using pesticides.

It is thought that Pygmy Shrews have been in Irelandsince the last ice age. They are a protected specieshere.

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Plant Life


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Choking the WaterwaysChoking the WaterwaysChoking the WaterwaysChoking the WaterwaysIIIIn the Autumn 2010 issue of Nature’s Web we talked about the ‘Most Unwanted’ species. Known as ‘invasive

species’, these are certain animals and plants not native to Ireland. Once introduced here they take overtheir new environment, often destroying the native species that are present.Being an island on the edge of Europe, Ireland is lucky not to have too many invasive species, but some ofthe worst we have are aquatic, or water-loving, plants. Our waterways can become completely choked by asingle species and this can affect boating, angling and water-based recreation.

What it looks likeWhat it looks likeWhat it looks likeWhat it looks likeHimalayan balsam typically grows to 2 m high, with asoft green or red-tinged stem and slender serratedleaves, up to 15 cm long. The crushed foliage has astrong musty smell. It flowers from June and October;the plant forms seed pods which explode whendisturbed, scattering the seeds up to 7 m from theparent plant. Each plant can produce up to 800 seeds. TheBalsam’s only redeeming factor is that the green seedpods, seeds, young leaves and shoots are all edible.

Himalayan balsamHimalayan balsamHimalayan balsamHimalayan balsamOne such invasive species is Himalayan balsam. It isan attractive annual plant (each lasts one year anddies at the end of the growing season) thatoriginated from Asia. It was first introduced toIreland and the British Isles in 1839 as an attractivegarden plant. By 1855 it had ‘escaped’ and wasgrowing in the wild. It is now found along riverbanksand in other areas with damp soils, including marshand woodland. It is widespread throughout Ireland.Himalayan balsam grows to over 2 m high and haslarge, bright pink flowers and distinctive ‘popping’seed heads. While a pretty plant, it can cause arange of problems in bankside habitats as it can out-compete native species for space. This hugelyincreases the risk of riverbank erosion by stoppingthe growth of native bankside vegetation. The rootsof native species would usually bind the banks andhold the soil in place. In the autumn, with justbalsam as the only species on the bank, it leaves baresoil when it dies. This bare soil is easily eroded andwashed away by rain or floods.For more information visit:

Information courtesy of Fisheries Awareness www.faw.ie

Removal & “Balsam Bashes”Removal & “Balsam Bashes”Removal & “Balsam Bashes”Removal & “Balsam Bashes”Balsam can be easily removed from theground as it has a very shallow root ball.During Fisheries Awareness Week (inMay) Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) run

a number of ‘Balsam bashes’to remove it. If you want toknow how to organise and runone or where you can go tojoin in with a bash, please goto the Fisheries Awarenesswebsite – www.faw.ie

Root ball

English Name: Himalayan balsamScientific name: Impatiens

glanduliferaIrish Name: Lus na pléisce

http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/Invasive-Species/invasive-species.html

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Where do you work?I am based in the IFI office in Swords. Howeverthe job takes me all over Ireland either coachingangling or organising visits for journalists.Sometimes I go abroad running promotional shows.Have you always been interested in what you do?Yes. I did a post graduate degree in Marine Biology atGlasgow University, which included research into Bass.What training did you do to get where you aretoday?As well as a teaching qualification I hold a varietyof angling coaching awards.What is a day in your life like?This varies dramatically. Early in the year we tendto take part in a variety of promotional shows,mainly in Europe, to attract anglers to Ireland tofish. Later in the year I am involved in running avariety of projects such as Fisheries AwarenessWeek (see www.faw.ie) and the Something Fishyprogramme for schools (www.somethingfishy.ie).Of late I have been heavily involved in developingeducational angling programmes that we willhopefully roll out in the next couple of years.A major part of my post during the game fishingseason is organising / running trips for visitingforeign journalists. The aim is to promote variousIrish fisheries / areas by getting suitable articleswritten, emphasizing what is best in Ireland. Ontop of this I am also involved in coaching angling, aswell as some elements of research.What is your main aim?To promote Irish angling to all.

What is the best thing about your job?The variety of the job as well as the fact that as apassionate angler this job often allows me topractice my hobby whilst at work.What is the worst thing about your job?Midges.Do you enjoyyour work?Yes very much,but like all jobs ithas its good, aswell as badpoints. Howeveroverall the goodtotally outweighsthe bad.What equipmentdo you use?Fishing rods andreels.Do you workalone or as partof a team?I work within anexcellent team oflike-mindedcolleagues.What advicewould you givesomeone wantingto do your job?Fish as often andas much as youcan and expect toget wet.What would youdo if you weren't doing what you do?Lecture in Outdoor Education.What is best piece of advice you have ever had?

Treat the earth well.It was not given to you by your parents,it was loaned to you by your children.We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors,we borrow it from our Children.

Ancient Indian Proverb

All in a Day’s Work



Mark Corps – Angling Advisor, Inland Fisheries IrelandMark Corps – Angling Advisor, Inland Fisheries IrelandMark Corps – Angling Advisor, Inland Fisheries IrelandMark Corps – Angling Advisor, Inland Fisheries Ireland

Mark Corps is an AnglingAdvisor for InlandFisheries Ireland (IFI).After university he taughtEnvironmental Education, aswell as Outdoor Education.He ended up runningResidential Educationcentres before changingcareer some five years ago.

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Top: Teaching on a ghillies (fishing attendants)course; Middle: Landing a fish for a novice:Bottom: Mark Corps holding a large salmon.

Mark with a specimen shad.

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Wordsearch


I I O V M U O F W S Y N N F J E O K

R N Z O G A C D E V A G I W L B W C

R U V A K V R L X T M S W G K A E U

Z B C A B C C K I F H M A A F L N D

D R U Z S A U O C I V E X V A L D E

O K L Y N I N C N O D A T M V Y U L

O U O R B A V G S E R U O B N C F T

W G A P L H I E L O T P V T X R F T

K B B P V O V I S P R R S T I O R I

D K A Y B H A E I P A E M Q W Y I L

T R G K Q T V N V E E Y C C G K V T

K W A T E R W A Y S Z C Y O E P E F

S X X T G N I L G N A Q I D N K R I

K L I W E R H S Y M G Y P E W I W W

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J C B K Q K D J D Q D G Q P B P K A

R H U Y B U R H E I F I K E R N W M

Try out this giant wordsearch containing wordsfound in this issue of the newsletter.

Nature’s Web SummerNature’s Web SummerNature’s Web SummerNature’s Web Summer2012 Wordsearch2012 Wordsearch2012 Wordsearch2012 Wordsearch

SOLUTIONS: (Over,Down,Direction) Angling (11,13,W); Ballycroy (16,2,S); Barnacles (2,9,NE); Cuckoo (8,6, NW);Fishing (14,1,SW); Himalayan Balsam (2,16,E); IFI (10,18,E); Invasive Species (1,1,SE); Little Duck (18,10,N); MarkCorps (5,1,SE); National Park (12,1,SW); Orca (1,6,NE); Owenduff River (17,1,S); Pygmy Shrew (13,14,W); Rhinoceros(18,16,NW); Swift (18,15,N); Waterways (2,12,E); White-tailed Eagle (1,16,NE).

Angling

Ballycroy

Barnacles

Cuckoo

Fishing

HimalayanBalsam

IFI

Invasive species

Little Duck

Mark Corps

National Park

Orca

Owenduff River

Pygmy Shrew

Rhinoceros

Swift

Waterways

White-tailedEagle

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Colour In

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Fun Catch!Fun Catch!Fun Catch!Fun Catch!

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A Beginner’s Guide toIreland’s Seashore is apocket-sized guide, suitablefor beginners of all ages. Thisbook will help you to explorethe wonders of marine lifefound on theshores aroundIreland.

Only €8.00includingpostage

Sea Life DVD:Sea Life DVD:Sea Life DVD:Sea Life DVD:““““On the Water’s Edge”On the Water’s Edge”On the Water’s Edge”On the Water’s Edge”

Sherkin Island Marine Stationhas launched a dvd called‘On the Water’s Edge’. It ismade up of a short film on lifebeside the sea and is presented by AudreyMurphy. It includes 6-10 hours of interactivematerial for children of all ages. Availablefrom: Sherkin Island Marine Station, SherkinIsland, Co. Cork. €6.35 including postage.

To order books, send your name and address along with a cheque orpostal order made payable to Sherkin Island Marine Station to:

Sherkin Island Marine Station, Sherkin Island, Co.Cork. Ireland.

Or visit: www.sherkinmarine.ie where you can order by Paypal.

Only €2.10each

includingpostage or

€12.00 for allseven!

32pp each

A Beginner’s Guide to Ireland’s Wild FlowersHave you ever wanted to put aname to the wild flowers yousee about you every day, orwhile on a walk, or on holiday?With the help of this pocket-sized guide, you will be able todo just that. Beginners of allages will be introduced to the many commonwild flowers found around Ireland. 206pp

Only €8.50 including postage

Sherkin Island Marine Station has published a rangeof colouring books, guides and activity books forchildren. Each 32-page Colouring & Guide Bookgives you the chance to colour, identify and learnabout the wildlife around Ireland. My Nature Diarycontains lined pages to fill in a daily record ofsightings and nature news.

“An A to Z of Geology” explores the fascinating worldof rocks and geology – a world of volcanoes, tsunamis,earthquakes, diamonds, gold and even dinosaurs!Produced by Sherkin Island Marine Station, inassociation with the Geological Survey of Ireland, thebook aims to highlight the importance of geology inour everyday lives.

Only €5.99 plus €1.00 postage

Learn More



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Raptors: www.birdofpreycentre.com www.goldeneagle.ie

Swift: http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/IrelandsBirds/Swifts/Swift/tabid/1127/Default.aspx

Barnacles: www.captaincockle.com http://www.marlin.ac.uk/phylumdetails.php?phylum=2326#maxillopoda

Pygmy Shrew: http://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/PygmyShrew.htmlhttp://www.irelandswildlife.com/2011/07/pygmy-shrew-sorex-minutus/

Choking the Waterways: http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/Invasive-Species/invasive-species.htmlhttp://invasivespeciesireland.com/most-unwanted-species/established/terrestrial/himalayan-balsam

Fisheries Awareness Week: www.faw.ie www.fisheriesireland.ie

White-tailed Eagle: http://www.goldeneagle.ie/portal.php?z=9

Cuckoo: www.bto.org/cuckoo http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/IrelandsBirds/Cuckoos/Cuckoo/tabid/1096/Default.aspx

Rhinoceros: http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/rhinoceros/rhinos.html www.museum.ie

Killer Whale: http://www.russianorca.com/index.php?lang=enhttp://www.iwdg.ie/species_profiles.asp?speciesID=2122

Watersheets: www.corkcoco.ie > Environment > Environmental Awareness > Youth > Latest Publications

Ballycroy National Park: http://www.ballycroynationalpark.ie/

Angling for Children: www.faw.ie

We cannot be responsible for the content of external websites, so please observe due care when accessing any site on the internet.

Useful Web AddressesThere are lots of websites to be found on the internet that will give you furtherinformation on topics we have covered in this newsletter. Here are a few thatmay be of interest:

11

Back from Extinction in IrelandThere was great excitement in Co. Clare this April. A pairof young White-tailed Eagles were found nesting on a smallisland on Lough Derg, near Mountshannon. It is the firstdocumented evidence of this species breeding in Irelandsince they became extinct here over 100 years ago.You might ask, how can they be nesting in Ireland if they areextinct? Well, the Golden Eagle Trust began a re-introductionscheme in 2007, with the aim of re-establishing the birds here. As part of thescheme, young White-tailed Eagles have been taken (with permission) from nestsin Norway and released in Killarney, Co. Kerry, every summer for the past fiveyears. In total, 100 White-tailed Eagles have been released.The breeding pair, a four-year-old male and a three-year-old female, settled inthe Mountshannon area in early 2011 and in recent weeks began nest building.There is at least one egg in the nest and if everything goes according to plan, itshould hatch by the end of May.

“ForeignCorrespondent”

Michael Ludwig reportson some strangegoings on in the

natural world.


The World Around Us


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Cuckoo... Cuckoo...!In May of last year,scientists from theBritish Trust for

Ornithology (BTO)satellite-tagged five male

cuckoos in Norfolk in the UK.When the cuckoos left the UK at theend of the summer, the information

from the tags showed the birds takinga wide variety of routes across Spain orItaly, over the Mediterranean and acrossthe Sahara desert. All the birds reachedCongo and survived over winter. Oncethey began their migration back to theUK in the spring, they lost one bird inCameroon and two others are stillunaccounted for. Two of the cuckoosreturned to the UK in the beginning ofMay, having completed a 10,000-mile(16,093-km) journey. You can track theirjourney on www.bto.org/cuckoos. Theproject is giving scientists lots ofinformation on what research efforts andconservation action could be undertakenfor these birds. A recent nationwidebird survey, carried out by BirdWatchIreland, has shown an alarming drop inthe number of cuckoos that visit Ireland.

Standing out in the Crowd!Killer Whales, or Orcas, are black and white - well usually.However, scientists at the Far East Russia Orca Projectrecently observed and photographed a 7m all-white male killerwhale swimming with his family. Christened “Iceberg”, the killerwhale may or may not be a true albino (without pigment orcolour) - it has a little black behind the dorsal fin. The only way

the researchers can be sure is if his eyesare pink and uncoloured. Pink eyes are thegenetic "proof" of an albino.Unfortunately, they haven’t had a chanceto check yet. But, "Iceberg" certainlystands out in a crowd, or his family "pod"!

Removed from TemptationThere is an increasing amount of Rhinoceroshorns being poached (illegally taken) from wildanimals. Rhinoceros are killed for their horn. The horn is veryvaluable and illegally sold in a number of countries foruse in old-fashioned medical treatments. The value ofthe horn has prompted thieves to steal rhino horn frommuseums in various parts of Europe. To protect staff, visitorsand for the security of the museums from the thieves, theNational Museum of Ireland made the hard decision to removethe exhibits and replace them with replicas. Meanwhile moreand more countries with rhinoceros and other species thoughtto have magical powers are taking bigger steps to stop thepoaching. The sad part is that the horn has no medical value!

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Photocopy, cutout and colour inthe picturesbelow. Attacheach one to astick using tape,creating puppetsfor performing ina play.

Activity



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Play Acting!Play Acting!Play Acting!Play Acting!The Story of the LittleThe Story of the LittleThe Story of the LittleThe Story of the LittleDuck’s Little AdventureDuck’s Little AdventureDuck’s Little AdventureDuck’s Little AdventureLittle Duck was a duckling and heliked to go on adventures. One dayhe decided to leave his nest in thereeds and cross the river to seewhat was on the other side. Whenhe didn't come home for lunch,Mother Duck became worried andwent to find him. But he wasnowhere to be seen.Otter, who was sitting in his holtby the side of the river, saw thevery upset Mother Duck and wentto see what was wrong. "What'sthe matter Mother Duck?" saidthe Otter. "My little duckling ismissing!" said Mother Duck. Otterquickly swam to Frog, who wassitting on a lily pad, and asked herto help find Little Duck. Frog,Otter and Mother Duck searchedhigh and low but could not findLittle Duck.Suddenly Otter heard a squeakcoming from a large barrel floatingin the river. Could Little Duck beinside? Otter had a look and there,huddled in the back of the barrel,was a frightened Little Duck.While exploring the other side ofthe river he had come upon thebarrel and being curious, decidedto have a look inside. It was verydark and he was very frightened –too frightened to find his way outagain.Little Duck was happy to be backwith his mother and both motherand duckling were thankful to theirfriends Otter and Frog for comingto their rescue.In time, Little Duck continued toexplore the river but, from thenon, he was just a little morecareful!

Here is a chance to act out a story withyour friends and to take part in “Little

Duck’s Little Adventure”.Construct a stage using a covered table. Drawwaves on some card and attach them to theedge of the table, as well as reeds or twigson either side to give the impression of ariver and its banks. Read aloud “The Story ofthe Little Duck’s Little Adventure” to you andyour friends to familiarise yourselves with it.Assign a “character” to each person. You, aparent or teacher, could read the story aloudagain, with you all act out the parts, or youcould write a new story using thesecharacters - better still draw characters ofyour own!

This activity highlights some of the animals that live on a river. It encourages children to thinkabout these animals and how changes to the river’s environment will have an effect on their lives.The activity is taken from Water Worksheet 1, produced by Sherkin Island Marine Station for theEnvironmental Awareness & Research Unit, Cork County Council under the Local Agenda 21Partnership Fund, to support the Green School programme. All water worksheets are available onwww.corkcoco.ie > Environment > Environmental Awareness > Youth > Latest Publications.

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Think of a TitleThink of a TitleThink of a TitleThink of a Title

Fun Page

How much did you learn?How much did you learn?How much did you learn?How much did you learn?The answers to all these questions can be found in theThe answers to all these questions can be found in theThe answers to all these questions can be found in theThe answers to all these questions can be found in the

newsletter...see if you can remember!newsletter...see if you can remember!newsletter...see if you can remember!newsletter...see if you can remember!

1 Through which national park does the OwenduffRiver flow?

2 Where are the White-tailed Eagles nesting?

3 Mark Corps is involved with Fisheries AwarenessWeek. What website would you visit to get moreinformation about it?

4 What is another name for an orca?

5 Do swifts visit Ireland during the summer or thewinter?

6 Are Pygmy Shrews rodents?

7 Which type of angling would you be involved in ifyou caught a shark?

8 According to Captain Cockle, what are the curse ofpirates everywhere?

9 Himalayan balsam is considered an invasive plant inIreland. True or false.

10 For which organisation does Mark Corps work?

11 Are barnacles more closely related to crabs or fish?

12 What did the National Museum of Ireland recentlyremove from its exhibition, to be replaced with replicas?

13 Which two animals rescued Little Duck?

14 How long a journey did two of the satellite-taggedcuckoos make?

15 Declan Cairney wrote “Raptors - A Pocket Guide toBirds of Prey and Owls”. How old is Declan?

Have fun withyour friendsmaking up a

caption for thispicture of acrocodile.

Spot the five differences!Spot the five differences!Spot the five differences!Spot the five differences!


Where do fish get theirWhere do fish get theirWhere do fish get theirWhere do fish get theirmoney from?money from?money from?money from?The river bank.

Why did the fish blush?Why did the fish blush?Why did the fish blush?Why did the fish blush?Because it saw the boats bottom.


What holds the sun up inWhat holds the sun up inWhat holds the sun up inWhat holds the sun up inthe sky?the sky?the sky?the sky?

Sunbeams!

Where do fish wash?Where do fish wash?Where do fish wash?Where do fish wash?In a river basin.

What is uglier than anWhat is uglier than anWhat is uglier than anWhat is uglier than anaardvark?aardvark?aardvark?aardvark?

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Which fish dresses the best?Which fish dresses the best?Which fish dresses the best?Which fish dresses the best?The swordfish - it always

looks sharp?

Why is a dog so warm inWhy is a dog so warm inWhy is a dog so warm inWhy is a dog so warm insummer?summer?summer?summer?

He wears a coat and pants.

Answers: (1) Ballycroy National Park; (2) Lough Derg, near Mountshannon, CoClare; (3) www.faw.ie; (4) Killer whale; (5) Summer; (6) No; (7) Sea angling; (8)Barnacles; (9) True; (10) Inland Fisheries Ireland; (11) Crabs; (12) Rhinoceroshorn; (13) Otter and Frog; (14) 10,000 miles (16,093 km). (15) Eleven.

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SUMMER is the season of life inIreland; long days, mild temperaturesand even the odd bit of sunshineprovide plenty of productivity in thenatural world. From late spring theincrease in plant and insect activity iseasily seen on the Owenduff. The acidic nature of thebog means only acid tolerant plants occur in andalongside the river. Bogbean, with its attractive pink andwhite flowers, is the first plant species to flower, starting in early summer.It doesn’t tolerate flowing water but it can be found alongside the river inflooded bog pools and is a food plant for Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillars. Theriver is also home to a very rare Irish plant, the Ivy-leaved Bellflower. Thebanks of the Owenduff are the only known site in Mayo for this rarewildflower, which is mostly confined to the south of the country. Its delicatelilac flowers appear in July and August.Insect life is plentiful in summer time, with dragonfly and damselfly young (ornymphs as they are called) emerging as adults from suitable sheltered areasof the riverbed. Mayfly and stonefly nymphs can also be found, with hugenumbers of midges present along the riverbank. A windless summer eveningcan become unbearable as they seek out any exposed skin! All of these insectsprovide a food source for the Dipper, an aquatic bird that walks along theriverbed in search of its prey. Its powerful legs allow it to hold position inflowing rivers and it can see underwater and hold its breath for much longerthan other terrestrial birds.

By Richard Creagh

The Owenduff River winds its waywestwards from the Nephin Beg

Mountains, through Mayo’s biggestarea of bog. Mostof the river passesthrough BallycroyNational Park. This11,000 hectarepark is consideredspecial because ofits huge area ofblanket bog, most of which hasremained unchanged since it starteddeveloping after the last ice age.The Owenduff River system is oneof the last remaining large,unforested river catchments inIreland. A river catchment catchesall the water from the surroundingarea, eventually bringing it downriverto the sea. This unchanged area hascreated a healthy environment andhome for a huge variety of habitats,animals and plants, which means ithas a diverse ecosystem.


Conservation

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Otters on the RiverOtters are plentiful along the river, whichhas plenty of fish for them to eat. Anotter can use 20 km of river as itsterritory which is a lot for an animal thatdoesn’t get much bigger than 1 m in length!Watch out for otter droppings, known as spraints, on boulders or outcropsoverlooking the river.

The Owenduff is an important breedingground for Atlantic Salmon, with manyplaces along its length providing suitablesites for redds, which are shallow nests inwhich eggs are laid. Brown Trout can alsobe found in the river.

A River in SummerA River in SummerA River in SummerA River in Summer

A Blanket BogLike a huge cloak lying over the land, ablanket bog can slowly form overthousands of years as plant materialdecomposes on waterlogged land,creating a peaty soil.

Bogbean

Ivy-leavedBellflower

Richard Creagh, Ballycroy National Park Visitors Centre, Ballycroy Village, Co. Mayo.www.ballycroynationalpark.ie


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Special Feature



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Angling for ChildrenAngling for ChildrenAngling for ChildrenAngling for Children

AAAAnyone can learn to fish. Angling is an activitythat is suitable for all, irrespective of race,

gender or ability. You might ask at what age youcan start. Well, the earlier the better as it willgive you a life long interest. However anyone, ofany age, can take up fishing and get enjoymentfrom the activity. Perhaps you and your parents orgrandparents could learn together how to fish?You don’t need much equipment to start fishing. The basics would be arod and reel, suitable footwear, a lifejacket or buoyancy aid andprobably some waterproofs. Everything costs money, however it doesnot have to be expensive. Today perfectly functional tackle can bebought cheaply even from supermarkets. Most angling clubs have ajunior section where a supply of rods and reels can be borrowed.Some places cost to fish but the sea is free around Ireland, as aremost coarse fisheries. Even if you buy season tickets to fish a stretchof river, they are very reasonable, with most for juniors under €30 aseason – or the cost of one video game!

Where can you learn how to fish?Many angling clubs arrange activities and events to attract people to angling. Inland Fisheries Irelandarranges a variety of events throughout the year. In particular they organise and run Fisheries

Awareness Week – this year 12–18th May www.faw.ie. During this particular week events areorganised and run all over the country. Also find out about your local angling clubs and see if they have a youthsection. Some youth groups, such as cubs, run / teach fishing, while some summer camps also involve fishing.

What do you do ifyou catch a fish?If? You mean when! You have twochoices – unless the fishery you arefishing at has specific rules:1. If there are surplus stocks youcan keep the fish. Many anglers workto the principle that they only take afish if they plan to eat it!2. Most anglers today realise that toensure future stocks for all theyshould return fish. It has been saidthat fish are too valuable to only becaught once.A few points help ensure that thefish goes back to the water healthy:• Use appropriate fishing tackle.• Use a landing net.• Use barbless hooks.• Wet your hands before touching

the fish. Dry hands burn the sideof the fish.

• Try to keep the fish in water.• Support the fish in the water

(facing into the current) until itis strong enough to swim away.

DifferentTypesof AnglingThere arethree main branchesof angling:Sea – fishing for speciesfound in the sea such as plaice,cod and even blue shark.Coarse – for fish such asperch, bream or pike.Game – salmon and trout.No matter where you live inIreland you are unlikely to bemore than 5 miles from asuitable stretch of water thatwill hold fish.

Angling & SafetyWhenever one is around water one has to beaware that it is a dangerous environment.However, by following a few basic rules onecan minimise the danger:1. Preferably learn to swim and wear a

suitable personnel flotation unit(lifejacket or buoyancy aid) when nearwater.

2. Go with an adult.3. Always fish from a safe place.4. Wear appropriate clothing to suit the

conditions.5. Use appropriate safety equipment such

as a hat & glasses if you are fly fishing.6. Keep out of the water.

by Mark Corps, Inland Fisheries Ireland

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Nature’s Noticeboard!

Summer 2012


Make a memory gameby putting items from natureon a tray. Ask you friend to

study the tray for 10 seconds,hide the tray and see how

many items they can

Take advantage of the finedays to dry your clothes onthe line rather than in thedryer to save electricity

and money!

?

Set up a swapping system inyour area. For example, you

might have too manylettuce plants that you

could swap for other plantsor items.

Freeze a plasticbottle of water thenight before you go

to the beach, so youhave lovely cold wateras it melts. Don’t fill it

to the top and leavethe lid off as the

water will expand as itfreezes.

Sherkin Island Marine Station would like to thank Sherkin Island Marine Station would like to thank Sherkin Island Marine Station would like to thank Sherkin Island Marine Station would like to thank PharmaChemical Ireland PharmaChemical Ireland PharmaChemical Ireland PharmaChemical Ireland forforforfortheir support in making this newsletter possible. We would like to thank thosetheir support in making this newsletter possible. We would like to thank thosetheir support in making this newsletter possible. We would like to thank thosetheir support in making this newsletter possible. We would like to thank thosewho have contributed to this newsletter especially Mark Corps, Richard Creagh,who have contributed to this newsletter especially Mark Corps, Richard Creagh,who have contributed to this newsletter especially Mark Corps, Richard Creagh,who have contributed to this newsletter especially Mark Corps, Richard Creagh,John Joyce, Michael Ludwig, Robbie Murphy, Jez Wickens and Julian Wyllie.John Joyce, Michael Ludwig, Robbie Murphy, Jez Wickens and Julian Wyllie.John Joyce, Michael Ludwig, Robbie Murphy, Jez Wickens and Julian Wyllie.John Joyce, Michael Ludwig, Robbie Murphy, Jez Wickens and Julian Wyllie.Visit the Sherkin Island Marine Station website at www.sherkinmarine.iewww.sherkinmarine.iewww.sherkinmarine.iewww.sherkinmarine.ie

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Find out if thereare places near

to you where youcan learn to fish.

www.faw.ie

On fine days, take a picnicinto the garden for yourlunch. It doesn’t have tobe a fancy picnic but it is

lovely to be nearer tonature.

To have salad leaves all summer,sow seeds of a “cut-and-come-

again” variety in a pot andkeep them on your

window sill.A water-butt (a large

drum connected to yourrainpipe) will collect lotsof water when it rains.

This water can be used towater the garden.

Make acollage of pretty

flowers and leaves.Take a picture of the

collage, print it out anduse it as a greeting card.

nature’sweb · a new house without providing a small cavity or hollowed out brick, just large...

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