Local School Children Suggest Hen Harrier Names

Loads of entries came in for naming Hen Harrier chicks and it was a really difficult decision to make in choosing the best and most suitable. Finally, the names were chosen as follows:

Heather (after the Hen Harrier's natural habitat)

Diarmuid (after a Celtic legend who has links with many parts of Ireland, including a place on the Duhallow/Muskerry border named after Diarmuid where Hen Harriers previously bred)

Blackwater (after the most beautiful River Blackwater that flows through Duhallow and has Hen Harriers along its flow)

Sky (after the most spectacular feature of the Hen Harrier - the Sky Dance!)

Well done to all who suggested these names. Stay tuned! ;-)

Hen Harrier - Nature's Work of Art

Hen Harriers are among the most elegant, skillful and inspiring sights one could ever hope to see. Elegance, Skill and Inspiration are all values that are needed for good art. The best entries of the art that was received from primary schools in the Duhallow and Muskerry regions can be seen in the video below. All entries can be seen in the "Education" page of this website.

The Arrivals (2). The chicks are in the nests! We're getting close!

Nest 1

The mother leaves the nest to hunt for more food for the three chicks. © Barry O'Donoghue

 

This nest, set in heather, grass and gorse is quite amazing, even by the high standards set by Hen Harriers as to what is amazing!

From a hide just 30m away, I could see all the action in the nest, the three chicks gaining their feathers, the father and mother bringing in prey and brooding the young in times of mist or rain...it really is a sublime privilege to watch Hen Harriers. It is enthrawling to watch the siblings walk about, stretch their wings, have the odd brother-sister tiff and even have a tug-o-war with the food brought in by their parents! Please God they will all remain safe from predators, given their parents have to travel long distances over mature forestry before they reach suitable hunting grounds, thereby increasing the time during which the chicks are left on their own.

Nest 2

Two chicks only 2-3 days old and another chick is hatching from the egg to the right. © Barry O'Donoghue

There is also another egg in the nest. Hopefully all four will make it. They are much later than normal in their breeding attempt, perhaps as a result of the abnormal weather this Spring/Summer. The parents at this nest are really good providers so we have good hope.

Nest 3

The father is bringing in food to the nest. © Barry O'Donoghue

This guy is a super provider, the high rate at which he brings in food is a reflection of the fact that he has profitable hunting habitats (Willow bushes, Rough Grassland, Heather Bog, Hedgerows) in proximity to his nest.

Hen Harrier Presentation Now Online

The introduction to Hen Harriers in Ireland, presented to the community of Duhallow, is now available to watch in full on "The Hen Harrier" page of this website.

Hen Harrier Day in Newmarket

Hundreds of school children from Banteer, Lyre, Kilcorney, Ballydesmond, Meelin and Donoughmore, all areas immersed in Hen Harrier habitat and territories, attended one of the most important days of the Duhallow Hen Harrier Satellite Tracking project - Hen Harrier day in Newmarket.

This gathering brought the next generation and custodians of the landscape in Duhallow closer to the Hen Harrier, and the Hen Harrier closer to the people.

Barry O'Donoghue introduced the school children to the Hen Harrier and talked about its ecology including the spectacular food passes and sky dancing! All of this is on the doorstep of  the people of Duhallow and just waiting to be enjoyed!

The schools are invited to become involved on the satellite tracking project by contributing writings and images of what the Hen Harrier means to them. By logging onto this blog, they will be able to follow the progress of the satellite-tagged young harriers as they make their way in the world from August 2012 onwards. So that we know which bird is which, the two male and two female harriers will be christened by the local school children!

The live presentation will be uploaded to the blog shortly so keep checking for updates!

The Arrivals (1)

They're here! So it begins!

Opening the boxes to reveal the state-of-the-art Microwave Telemetry Satellite Tracking Devices

The beginning almost feels like the end, given the incredible amount of hard work already completed in getting this project up and running and the PTT devices into my hands! A major thank you to all involved at the early stages, in particular Katie Crowley, Theresa Collins, Maura Walsh and the Environmental Working Group and Board of Directors of IRD Duhallow for funding the purchase of these tags. Of course the tags would not be of much use without the financial support of NPWS to download the important data that they will generate. Particular thanks are due to Dr. David Tierney and Dr. Ciaran O'Keeffe. The support of NPWS staff on the ground in Duhallow is very much appreciated, in particular Tim O'Donoghue, Dr. Tim Burkitt, Frank McMahon and Pat Dawson. Aidan O'Donoghue and Dan O'Loughlin are the dynamic duo of Duhallow in their search for Hen Harrier nests now. Please let us know if you see any Hen Harriers and it will help us in our quest.

Major thanks to Microwave Telemetry (USA), CLS (France) and Stephen Murphy (England) for technical support and advice.

Without the community of Duhallow, this project would not have been possible at all. The interest, hope and support inspired by the people there has brought this project to the fore!

Likewise, I'm sure when the birds are tagged and start moving to distant lands, we will build our community of supporters and people involved in this project. Duhallow is just the starting point...or will the tagged harriers return again?!