Wildlife
can be seen all around us. You can watch the wildlife in your
garden from the armchair in your sitting room. A short walk
through the countryside, your local park or along the beach
can also provide exciting sightings of Irish wildlife. These
chance encounters can be used to increase our knowledge of
plants and animals living in Fingal.
Most Irish nature conservation bodies organise surveys or
simple recording schemes that you can become involved in.
The surveys generally cater for all ages and training is provided
when necessary, so you don’t need to be an expert to
participate in these surveys.
Have an interest in...
Why
not participate in one of these schemes and learn more about
the wildlife on your doorstep?
The Garden Bird Survey - Birdwatch Ireland
The Garden Bird Survey is a popular bird survey that
helps to keep track of the fortunes of Ireland’s garden
birds. The survey takes place between December and February
each year and the public is asked to keep note of the bird
species visiting their garden each week. Garden birds are
ideal subjects for a volunteer-based survey. They are among
our most familiar and easily observed bird species, are
easily attracted to feeders and bird tables, and can be
watched from the comfort of our own homes.
If you want to participate in the Garden Bird Survey
please contact Bird Watch Ireland on 01 281 9878 or e-mail info@birdwatchireland.ie.
Spring Alive - Birdwatch Ireland
The Spring Alive project is a birdwatching survey
that records the first sightings of three symbolic Spring
birds: the Swallow, Cuckoo and Swift. Children and adults
all around Europe send in their sightings which enables
scientists to track the arrival of spring every year. This
information will help us to find out lots about bird migrations
right across Europe. Taking part is very simple. All you
need to do is register your first bird sightings on-line
every year.
If you want to participate in the Spring Alive
project please check out www.springalive.net or contact Bird Watch Ireland on 01 281 9878 or e-mail info@birdwatchireland.ie.
I-WeBS - Birdwatch Ireland
The Irish Wetland Bird Survey (I-WeBS) is the scheme
that monitors wintering waterbirds such as Geese and Waders
in Ireland. The survey runs from September to March each
winter. Bird counters go out once a month and count all
waterbirds present in their local wetland. Within Fingal,
the local branch of Birdwatch Ireland focuses on the three
estuaries: Rogerstown, Broadmeadow and Baldoyle and a number
of coastal sites.
Iscope - Irish Whale &
Dolphin Group Harbour porpoise, common dolphin, striped dolphin, minke
whale, fin whale and basking shark are occasionally seen along
the Fingal coast. Have you seen any of these sea mammals along
our coast, then report your sightings to the Irish Whale
& Dolphin Group! Their ISCOPE scheme aims to promote
better awareness and knowledge of whales, dolphins and porpoises
in Irish waters. The initiative is open to everyone and appropriate
training is provided by the IWDG on how to observe, identify
and record whales & dolphins. The best places to see Whales
& Dolphins in Fingal is around Howth Head, Skerries and
the islands off the Fingal coast.
Purse Search Ireland Purse Search Ireland is an exciting marine outreach project that encourages the Irish public to report their observations of mermaids’ purses, which are actually the eggcases of sharks, skates and rays! The purses are laid by the adult female in a suitable habitat on the seafloor, with the young embryo developing within the eggcase for up to 15 months. The baby shark or ray then hatches out of the purse and swims away, leaving the discarded eggcase behind it. Observations of mermaids’ purses on the seashore can provide valuable information on the location of nursery areas for Ireland's skates and rays, some of which are endangered or rare.
For more information please visit www.marinedimensions.ie and follow the links for Jay the Ray or contact Sarah Varian on (01) 282 8876.
Irish Butterfly Monitoring
Scheme - National Biological Record Centre The Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme was set up
by the National Biological Record Centre in 2007. This
project aims to set up a network of volunteers across Ireland
to monitor the abundance of butterflies on a regular basis.
Why not set up a transect in a park near you and start recording
the various butterflies you see there during the year?
Lizard Survey - Irish
Wildlife Trust
Did you know that we have lizards in Fingal? Go and have a
look in your locality if you can find these quick little creatures
sunning themselves on a rock or in the sand. The lizard survey
gathers sightings from all over the country from the general
public to gain a better understanding of its distribution
in Ireland. Rocky and sandy beaches seem to be the most likely
places to encounter a lizard, so keep an eye out for them
the next time you visit your local dune and beach.
For more information and survey sheets please contact Joanna
Pender at the Irish Wildlife Trust on 01 860 2839 or enquiries@iwt.ie
or visit www.iwt.ie.
Hop To It Frog Survey - Irish Peatland Conservation Council
The Hop To It Irish Frog Survey aims to find out more
about the status and distribution of the common frog in Ireland.
The common frog is widespread and common in Ireland but vulnerable
in the rest of Europe. They can be found in many damp places
including your garden and garden pond. The survey gathers
frog sightings from all over the country and the IPCC is always
on the look-out for new records from Fingal.
For more information and recording sheets please contact
Irish Peat Conservation Council on 045 860 133 or bogs@ipcc.ie
or visit www.ipcc.ie.
Seashore Survey - Coastwatch
Have a local beach nearby? Why not carry out a seashore survey
and see what animals and plants you can find. Coastwatch Ireland
is collecting this ecological information from beaches all
over Fingal to get a better picture on how our coastal plants
and animals are doing. The seashore survey is open to everyone
and training can be provided by local Coastwatch volunteers
on identification of coastal plants and animals.
Dublin Naturalists Field Club
If you are a budding naturalist wishing to know a bit more
about your natural environment and increase your recognition
and identification skills for organisms such as flowering
plants, lichens, mollusks and butterflies, or if you wish
to share your expertise with others, you may enjoy being a
member of the Dublin Naturalists Field Club.
