Special measures for a special area

THE upland countryside where the counties Cork, Kerry and Limerick meet continues to be a place where rare and threatened species of wildlife can still be found.

In the last 20 to 30 years, the territory has been heavily forested — excessively, some might say — and it has also become a windfarm zone, which immediately raises questions about the impact a large number of turbines can have on nature.

An Bord Pleanála, which recently granted planning permission to Saorgus Energy for a 28-turbine windfarm in the Cordal area, roughly between Castleisland and Newmarket, laid down strict conditions, as you might expect in one of nature’s last refuges here.

From reading through a long, detailed report, it is clear the appeals board took environmental issues and possible effects of the development on ‘a very remote and sparsely populated area’ very seriously.

The general area embraces the Mullaghreirke Mountains, Mount Eagle, the catchments of the Lower Shannon and River Blackwater, and part of Duhallow, in north-west Cork. The Blackwater rises nearby.

It also contains several areas designated for protection under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives.

Birds identified on the site include red grouse and curlew, but no merlin, waders or short-eared owls. Some locals tell us they haven’t seen grouse up there for a long time, but an environmental impact study concludes there are breeding pairs of grouse within the site. However, no turbines are planned for the grouse range.

Hen Harriers are there and, according to a breeding survey, loss of habitat is not significant for the harriers. However, it is urged that construction works should be avoided within 300-500m of breeding pairs in the April/August period. The likelihood of hen harriers colliding with turbines is regarded as low. Also, the impact on other bird species in terms of loss of habitat is said to be ‘very limited’. That is because turbines and other facilities will be located within the conifer plantation area, not on the raised bogs, important habitats, especially for red grouse, hen harrier and curlew.

In relation to other animals recorded in the area, including Sika deer, hares, stoats, badgers, pigmy shrew, otter and red squirrel, the appeals board points out about 3% of the overall site will be directly subjected to construction works and the most significant habitat within the site — blanket bog — will remain largely undisturbed.

Concerns were raised about the freshwater pearl mussel, in the Blackwater. But, it was pointed out the pearl mussels are about 15km from the site and that activities upstream, including discharges from sewage treatment plants, posed a greater risk. In summary, the board believes that mitigation measures on site, as well the 19 conditions attached to planning, should ensure no poll-ution and no danger to wildlife.

Separately, a hi-tech project to help scientists discover more about the declining hen harrier population is underway in the Duhallow region, with community support.

The satellite-tracking project is a joint venture between IRD Duhallow and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Satellite tracking will provide crucial information that has been unavailable to scientists to-date. It will tell the programme team where young harriers go after they fledge the nest, which habitats they gravitate towards, how far they range, how many young harriers die and more.

It will also add to the research undertaken by the Irish Hen Harrier Winter Roost Survey, helping researchers to pinpoint new winter roost locations.

Advances in satellite tracking technology mean devices weighing as little as 9.5 grams can be fitted to fledgling hen harriers without impeding the birds’ ability to hunt. Programme coordinator, Barry O’Donoghue, says the project springs from the desire of the Duhallow community to help the remaining hen harriers and ensure their future. Hundreds of school children from places such as Banteer, Kilcorney, Ballydesmond, Meelin and Donoughmore recently attended a Hen Harrier Day in Newmarket.

This gathering brought the next generation and custodians of the landscape in Duhallow closer to the harrier, and the harrier closer to the people, comments Mr O’Donoghue, who introduced the bird to them and talked about its ecology, including the spectacular food passes and sky dancing. Duhallow primary schools were invited to become involved in the tracking project by contributing essays and images of what the harrier means to them. They will be using a blog to follow the progress of the four satellite-tagged young harriers from next month onwards.

The two male and two female harriers will be named by the local school children: surely, a prime example of encouraging youth to take an interest in nature and the environment.