Farmers give endangered birds a helping hand

Over the last year, Neal Warnock, Halting Environmental Loss Project (HELP) Officer, has worked with local farmers and landowners to ensure that these birds, once commonplace, stand a good chance of having a future.

Nearly £1.5 million has been given to HELP from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the INTERREG IVA Programme, which is delivered locally by the Special EU Programmes Body. The project has already been in place for a year and will run for a further two and a half years until the end of 2014.

Neal has worked with farmers in the area to manage suitable habitat for these farmland birds, collectively known as breeding waders.

Despite the often wet conditions over the winter, rush control was carried out by many farmers.

“This creates ideal nesting environments for the birds, who like to have a clear view around them to keep an eye on approaching danger,” said Neal.

“Scrapes and wet flushes were installed in February by several farmers. These are naturally wet areas, where the top surface layer of grass is removed to leave shallow muddy pools. They will help attract birds in the spring and provide wader chicks with much needed access to muddy wet margins to feed on the invertebrates that gather there.”

The birds started to return by late February and by mid March lapwing, curlew and snipe had all returned to their breeding grounds.

“Lapwing could be seen performing their fabulous aerial displays,” said Neal. “I was contacted by a farmer who had seen waders on his farm. When I visited, there was a flock of over 40 lapwing and snipe. This ground is one of the few places remaining in Glenwherry where lapwings are using wet grassland to breed. It is very rewarding to see the birds responding to the work that has been done.”

The breeding season is now underway and Neal is keen for people to get in touch if they see these birds in the area.

“We are looking for lapwing, snipe, redshank and curlew,” said Neal. “The hills of Glenwherry are one of the last remaining hotspots in Northern Ireland for these birds. In the case of the curlew, these hills hold more breeding pairs than the whole of County Donegal. It is a very special place and we hope that the hard work the farmers have put in over this past autumn and winter is rewarded during the breeding season.”

If you see breeding waders in the Glenwherry area, please contact Neal Warnock at [email protected] or call 07703716840.