logo
New playpark being planned on 'optimum' site for breeding birds

New playpark being planned on 'optimum' site for breeding birds

Yahoo06-02-2025
A NEW playpark in Enniskillen is being proposed on a site that has been described as "optimal for breeding birds".
The play park and picnic area is being proposed for the Cavanaleck area of Enniskillen, and will feature an inground trampoline, slides, swings and multi-play unit.
If successful, the play area will have access provided via a 1.5m path, which will lead to a recreation area finished with a 'water permeable wet pour rubber safety surface with pin kerb edging'.
The project will also provide wheelchair accessible picnic tables.
However, a recent biodiversity inspection has found that the proposed area is an optimum site for breeding birds.
"The site and habitats therein are considered optimal for breeding birds," read a report from Ecologist, Amy Gallagher.
"All species of breeding birds and their nests are protected under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.
"Therefore, if future plans involve, the removal of vegetation on-site must be undertaken outside the breeding season, which extends from March 1 to August 31, inclusive.
"Should vegetation removal be required between March 1 and August 31, it is recommended that a qualified ecologist is appointed to survey the areas of vegetation prior to removal for evidence of use by breeding birds. Should any breeding birds be identified, the area will need to remain undisturbed until all dependent young have fledged the nest, and the nest is no longer in use."
The application has been made by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council as part of its playpark strategy.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

A Biologist Spotlights The Largest ‘Bird Of Prey' In The World (Hint: It's Also The World's Heaviest Soaring Bird)
A Biologist Spotlights The Largest ‘Bird Of Prey' In The World (Hint: It's Also The World's Heaviest Soaring Bird)

Forbes

timean hour ago

  • Forbes

A Biologist Spotlights The Largest ‘Bird Of Prey' In The World (Hint: It's Also The World's Heaviest Soaring Bird)

Birds, by design, tend to be small, light and streamlined. Yet there are some that push the ... More boundaries of size. Here is the avian world's best example of an ultra-heavyweight flyer. Birds of prey are defined by their sharp talons, hooked beaks, keen eyesight, and carnivorous diet – all of which enable them to hunt, kill or scavenge other animals for food. The bald eagle is a classic example of a bird of prey. It has a powerful, hooked beak. It has sharp talons for catching fish. Its eyesight is incredible. And it has a carnivorous diet, mainly eating fish and small mammals. An example of a bird that wouldn't qualify as a bird of prey is the American robin. The robin is much smaller and has a diet consisting mainly of worms, berries and insects. It doesn't have talons and its eyesight isn't nearly as impressive as a bald eagle's. There are several hundred birds of prey that exist in the world today. Some belong to the family Accipitridae, which comprises hawks, eagles, kites and harriers. Others belong to the family Falconidae and are falcons. Owls, ospreys, vultures and the snake-hunting secretarybird also fall into the bird of prey category. The largest bird of prey happens to be a vulture – a condor, to be precise. It is the Andean condor and it weighs up to 35 pounds. It is not the heaviest bird (that would be the flightless ostrich) and it is not the heaviest flying bird (that would be the great bustard) but it is the heaviest bird of prey. Here is the story of this fantastic flying creature. The Andean Condor – A Superlative Among Superlatives Andean condor perched on a rock, displaying its powerful build and characteristic bald head. The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) has a wingspan of 10+ feet (the largest wingspan of any land bird). Despite its 30+ pound physique, it soars effortlessly, gliding on thermal air currents with minimal wing-flapping. This is a skill that conserves energy during long flights. Unlike many birds of prey that actively hunt, the Andean condor is primarily a scavenger. It feeds mainly on the remains of dead animals, often spotting carcasses from high in the sky due to its exceptional eyesight. This role is vital in its ecosystem, as condors help clean up dead matter, making sure none of nature's bounty is wasted. Its bald head, often tinted with red or yellow hues, is an evolutionary adaptation to its scavenging lifestyle, helping to keep the head clean when feeding on carcasses. The condor's size and soaring ability allow it to travel vast distances across the rugged Andean landscape in search of food. Its wings are broad and equipped with 'primary feathers' that spread out like fingers, providing extra lift and maneuverability, which is crucial in navigating mountainous wind currents. Remarkably, these birds can fly for hours without landing, covering more than 150 miles in a single day without flapping their wings. Sidebar: Impressed by the Andean condor? Meet the world's tallest, and rarest, eagle here: The Andean condor's soaring ability has been quantified in extraordinary detail. A 2020 study published in PNAS used high-resolution biologging data to track every wingbeat of wild Andean condors across more than 200 hours of flight. The researchers found that condors flap their wings for less than 1% of their total flight time, with one bird covering over 100 miles in a single stretch without flapping at all. Most of the energy expenditure is concentrated during takeoff, while the rest of their movement is powered almost entirely by rising air currents. Even immature birds with limited experience were able to navigate mountainous terrain for hours at a time without powered flight, highlighting the species' extreme specialization for energy-efficient soaring. This efficiency is essential for aerial scavengers like the condor, since their large bodies make each wingbeat metabolically expensive. Andean condor soaring over the Andes, showcasing its massive wingspan and effortless gliding ... More ability. Engineers have even recently looked to the Andean condor for inspiration in designing more efficient wind turbines. You can read this article for the full details, but here are the cliff notes: A 2024 study published in the journal Energy found that mimicking the shape of the condor's wings led to a more efficient wind turbine blade, with an estimated 10 percent increase in energy production. Researchers added curved tips, known as winglets, to existing turbine blades. Modeled after the condor's splayed wingtips, these modifications created a more aerodynamic design that reduced drag and increased lift. The Andean condor is culturally important to the indigenous peoples of the Andes. It is looked to as a symbol of power, health and freedom, and features prominently in Andean mythology and folklore. The Andean condor faces many conservation challenges. Habitat loss, poisoning from carcasses tainted with pesticides or lead, and hunting have led to declining populations in some areas. Conservation efforts, including captive breeding and habitat protection, are ongoing. When comparing the Andean condor to other large birds, it holds a unique niche. While the ostrich dwarfs the Andean condor in weight, the ostrich is flightless. The great bustard, though sometimes larger than the Andean condor, is not nearly as capable a flyer. The condor, however, combines size with unparalleled soaring ability, making it the king of birds of prey. Are you an animal lover who owns a pet, perhaps even a pet bird? Take the science-backed Pet Personality Test to know how well you know your little friend.

Watch: Courageous squirrel goes toe-to-toe with rattlesnake in California
Watch: Courageous squirrel goes toe-to-toe with rattlesnake in California

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

Watch: Courageous squirrel goes toe-to-toe with rattlesnake in California

SAN DIEGO – A brave squirrel was seen coming face-to-face with a rattlesnake in California. Footage captured by San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Manager Sally Brown showed the courageous ground squirrel tossing wood chips and jumping around to fend off a Southern Pacific rattlesnake. Every so often, the rodent would stop and flick its tail to appear imposing during the stand-off with the reptile. According to the refuge, ground squirrels not only protect themselves but also protect their burrows and warn other nearby squirrels of predators. Watch: Arizona Police Officer Leaps Into Water To Save Dog Stuck In Canal "These clever critters have evolved unique anti-snake tactics," read a statement shared by the refuge. "They kick sand, heat up their tails to confuse the snake's heat sensors, and throw debris to drive predators away." Refuge officials said that the encounter likely started after the rattlesnake took a young squirrel for dinner. According to the National Park Service, rattlesnakes prey on a wide range of animals, including mice, small birds, gophers and other small mammals they may article source: Watch: Courageous squirrel goes toe-to-toe with rattlesnake in California Solve the daily Crossword

Wildlife rescue hopes blind, baby moose can find forever home at Toronto Zoo
Wildlife rescue hopes blind, baby moose can find forever home at Toronto Zoo

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

Wildlife rescue hopes blind, baby moose can find forever home at Toronto Zoo

A wildlife rescue in Ottawa is hoping the province will allow it to transfer a blind baby moose to the Toronto Zoo to live out its days in captivity, or it may be forced to euthanize it. The two-month old moose was found earlier this month on a rural road and brought to Holly's Haven Wildlife Rescue, where staff gave it the name Cedar. "He was walking through a field, calling out, probably calling out trying to find his mother and ... she was nowhere to be seen," said Lynne Rowe, director of operations at Holly's Haven. Veterinarians determined Cedar was entirely blind in one eye and has only partial vision in the other, meaning he likely won't be able to safely return to the wild, Rowe said. "For Cedar, if he was released in the wild, he'd be readily predated pretty quickly. He wouldn't survive long," Rowe said. LISTEN | Man who found Cedar the moose shares his story: The rescue is only licensed to rehabilitate animals and care for them until they can be released — not to care for animals in captivity, Rowe said. Province must decide if Cedar can be kept in captivity They also don't have the space. While Cedar is only about 60 kilograms now, a full-grown moose can stand up to six feet tall and weigh as much as 725 kilograms. "I will not be able to keep him when he grows much bigger. It costs a lot to feed him and I want him to have to not feel too confined," Rowe said. So, Rowe reached out to the Toronto Zoo, which currently has an empty moose enclosure, to see if it could provide a home for Cedar to live out his days in captivity. While the zoo says it would be willing to take Cedar in, whether it will be allowed to do so is up to Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources, which must sign off on classifying Cedar as unreleaseable to allow the zoo to keep him in captivity. Otherwise, Rowe said Cedar will have to be euthanized. "The only way the Toronto Zoo can take in an animal that's native to Canada is in a circumstance like this. They cannot take healthy animals out of the wild or newborn animals that are perfectly healthy and can survive in the wild," Rowe said. CBC News reached out to the ministry about Cedar, but was referred to the Holly's Haven Wildlife Rescue and Toronto Zoo. Ideal outcome for Cedar to be releasable: zoo The Toronto Zoo's moose enclosure has been empty since its two moose Lily and Trilly died last year, said the zoo's CEO Dolf DeJong. But it will be up to the province to decide whether the Toronto Zoo would be a suitable home for Cedar. Cedar also needs to be further assessed by veterinarians and animal care professionals to determine if that's the best course of action for him, DeJong said. "The preferred outcome is maybe Cedar would be releasable," DeJong said. "That said, they also have to make sure Cedar can still live a life where with those limited capabilities, [that] he can thrive." DeJong said euthanasia would be the "last choice", but may be necessary if veterinarians determine Cedar won't be able to live comfortably in captivity long-term. So far, Cedar seems to be doing well in captivity, which isn't the case for all animals, Rowe said. "In Cedar's case, he seems pretty calm in his enclosure here, and I feel he would be able to adapt to a larger enclosure at the Toronto Zoo." DeJong said he hopes that's the case. "We potentially could present an amazing forever home for Cedar if that's what's deemed the appropriate next step for him."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store