Irish Examiner’s nature coverage, on Mondays, is second to none
Dick Warner’s articles are always food for thought. Donal Hickey has a great feel for the environment and a sense of place. Richard Collins often opens a window to a wider world.
In light of the destruction of wildlife and habitat caused by gorse fires over the past week, there is a grave need for articles like this, to get people to take notice of the wonders of nature on their doorstep.
If the individuals who lit those mountain fires realised the destruction they caused to plant, insect, and bird life, perhaps they would think twice about their actions.
It is not surprising that the numbers of song birds, such as Linnet, Skylark, and Meadow Pipit, have decreased dramatically. The burning of heather caused a loss of habitat that led directly to the demise of Twite. One of the favourite nest sites for Yellowhammer was furze bushes. Twite and Yellowhammer are no longer found in Kerry.
In the past, I feel people were much more in tune with nature. Perhaps if other newspapers, and the media in general, highlighted wildlife and the natural environment, like your Monday page does, our country would have a more protected flora and fauna and we’d all be the better for it.