As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Thursday, 10 April 2014

RSPB buys Lough Erne island to help threatened species

Published: 8 Apr 2014 08:30

RSPB Northern Ireland is looking forward to giving more threatened species a home in Fermanagh after acquiring another island in Lower Lough Erne.

Humphrey’s Island encompasses 11 hectares of wet grassland with a reedbed fringe at the southern end of the lough, adjacent to the iconic Devenish Island.

A 1992 survey of Northern Ireland breeding wader sites found it was home to 15 pairs of breeding waders (curlew, lapwing and snipe) - species which have since suffered massive population declines. For example it’s thought that Fermanagh now holds 10 per cent of the entire Irish population of curlew.

However, thanks to dedicated habitat management in the area, there have been encouraging signs that the conditions breeding waders need to survive and thrive are improving.

Through the Halting Environmental Loss Project (HELP) local project officer Giles Knight provided direct advice to the grazier managing Humphrey’s Island to help improve the habitat for birds and wildlife.

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