Ireland is a beautiful place with lots of wild animals, many of which you won’t find here (and likewise, Ireland has no snakes – the common lizard is Ireland’s only reptile). You might not see Ireland’s wildlife all the time, but the creatures are there.
With a beak as bright as a circus clown’s nose, puffins bring a splash of colour to Ireland’s cliffs. These seabirds are famous for their unique nesting habits, making burrows in the soft soil high above the waves. Puffins are true ocean wanderers, only spending a few months on land each year to breed. Their affectionate nature, dubbed “sea parrots,” earns them admirers from far and wide.
In England, there has been a recent ban on sandeel fishing to protect dwindling numbers of both puffins and kittiwakes. This is being fought by the EU (so presumably Ireland has not had a ban, as it is still a member of the European Union).
The forests hold even more secrets. There, red deer roam. They are big and strong, but very gentle (as long as you are not competing in rutting season!) In the trees, if you look closely, you might find squirrels, busy collecting nuts. Red squirrels here are still endangered, but this country has got things right by rewilding pine martens (natural predators of greys) to keep nature in balance, without culls or laws banning wildlife rescues to help grey squirrels, as happens in England.
Badgers are the quiet introverts of the nocturnal world that live in clans, and emerge under the cover of darkness to forage and play. Known for their industrious digging of elaborate underground setts, Ireland has the same controversy as England, with badgers having been culled, despite solutions already known like stopping cattle-to-cattle transmission). In Northern Ireland, a Bill for badger culls got thrown out.
The Haunting Calls of the Corncrake
In the heart of the Irish night, listen closely, and you might hear the corncrake’s unmistakable call. Rarely seen, corncrakes are masters of hide and seek, skulking through dense grasses. This bird’s raspy voice once echoed across the land, but nowadays, it’s a rare treat. Efforts to protect its habitat are crucial to ensuring we don’t lose its haunting song altogether. Related to coots and moorhens, corncrakes are almost extinct in England, with most numbers only found in Scotland.
The Role of National Parks
Ireland’s national parks are the unsung guardians of biodiversity. They offer a refuge for species to flourish away from human encroachment. By managing habitats and enforcing conservation laws, these parks are vital strongholds in the fight to protect Ireland’s wildlife legacy. Ireland has six national parks, far more by ratio than England (which has 10 including the Lake District, Peak District and South Downs).
Ireland’s wildlife is as rich and varied as its history. By taking the time to explore these hidden wonders, we not only discover creatures full of character but also gain a deeper appreciation for the delicate ecosystems they inhabit. With careful conservation and the support of dedicated individuals, we can ensure these animals thrive for generations to come. So, head out into the wilds of Ireland, and you might just uncover nature’s best-kept secrets.
Irish Nature Through the Year
Step Into Nature is a beautifully illustrated weekly Irish nature diary, showcasing intricate ecosystems of old stone walls, to a rare pink grasshopper resting on the seed head of a bird’s foot trefoil on Finnamore Lake in Lough Boora. Hand-drawn sketches accompany beautiful photographs. Meet colourful fungi nestled in decaying leaves, unusual finds (candlesnuff, glistening inkcap, scarlet caterpillarclub). There’s a fungus called ‘yellow brain’ that feeds off fungi grown on fallen brunches plus orchids, robins and beautiful birdsong.
The author writes how worldwide we are witnessing catastrophic biodiversity losses, so it is all the more vital for each individual and community to help in a small but meaningful way, to slow down these losses. Simple examples are included in the book: leaving patches of nettles where four spring butterflies lay their eggs between March and May.
On a balmy late-summer evening, a dancing pair of Comma butterflies were seen in the garden, gracing the sky with with an elegant, twirling display overhead. Sweeping together from one end of the meadow to the other, yellow-buttered by the evening sun, one broke away to scan the spectator. I was standing still, soaking up the beauty of the moment.
Rachel McKenna is a naturalist who has spent the last five years observing, recording, photographing and drawing a diverse range of Irish wildflowers, insects and mammals. She also has actively participated in special interest groups like ‘Insects and Invertebrates of Ireland’. She is also an architect.
An Irish Nature Year offers a daily meditation, in this illustrated yearbook, for you to enjoy 5 minutes each day exploring the mysteries of the seasons. From ‘weeds’ in the pavement cracks to surprising inhabitants of vacant lots to unusual finds alongside our shoreline and hedgerows, you’ll find Ireland’s natural world makes for great bedtime reading!
- Who’s cutting perfect circles in your roses?
- Which birds wear feathery trousers?
Nature is all around us. We don’t have to be walking in the countryside or wandering along a beach. It is in the chatter of house sparrows, sheltering in a neglected hedge, in the clouds of ants mysterious appearing on a still summer afternoon. Nature is a constant friend, but so omnipresent that sometimes we forget to thank it for its existence.
Ireland has endlessly interesting flora and fauna. Abundant moisture and lack of extreme temperatures favours plant growth in every month of the year. Migrant birds from colder regions visit in winter. Our western coast abuts the Atlantic Ocean where nature is at its wildest and most magnificent. Whales can be seen from the headlands, as can basking sharks, the gentle giants of the fish world. Some of our plants and animals are bafflingly absent from Britain. Among these are the Kerry slug and Saint Patrick’s Cabbage.
Jane Powers is a nature writer and newspaper columnist who was gardening correspondent for many years for both the Irish Times and Sunday Irish Times.
