UCD Rosemount Environmental Research Station

This is pretty cool. A circa 7500 year old cave painting, depicting a person climbing a ladder to get honey from a beehive, has been discovered in Spain. More details: https://www.alphagalileo.org/en-gb/Item-Display/ItemId/210341/fbclid/IwAR3xqtUqkvzZJbG_puVyHAfTxtdYncteoXJKIbCBWPTU0bUCAnN05eAudrw?returnurl=https://www.alphagalileo.org/en-gb/Item-Display/ItemId/210341

(JL) Last summer was the most productive breeding season for Irish Barn Owls on record.

Last summer provided many reasons to celebrate in terms of Barn Owl conservation. It was a record setting year on many fronts, all of which were positive. We are hoping for more of the same this season.

In 2020, Barn Owls had a productivity of three young per breeding attempt, which is the highest productivity recorded in a single year in Ireland. It was also the earliest breeding season on record. In 2020, 59 nest boxes were used by breeding Barn Owl. This is the highest number of occupied nest boxes recorded in Ireland to date, and this number continues to increase each year. After decades of population declines, Barn Owls are showing the early signs of recovery in certain parts of their range in Ireland. You can read all about the Barn Owl Monitoring in 2020 and view the report here: https://birdwatchireland.ie/barn-owl-breeding-season-2020/

We are hoping for more positive news this season and we are currently in the midst of our monitoring and conservation work. We are looking for your help to assist with our survey efforts, please report information that you may have on Barn Owls in your area, visit here: https://birdwatchireland.ie/our-work/surveys-research/research-monitoring/raptors/barn-owl-survey/

Thanks to the funders who supported the Barn Owl monitoring and conservation work in 2020, including Galway County Council Tipperary County Council Cork County Council Dublin Zoo and to all the many individuals and groups who assist with the many facets of this work, who are acknowledged in the report, and to the Laois Barn Owl Project who were supported by Laois County Council and Gas Networks Ireland and the Wexford Barn Owl Project A separate report on our Barn Owl conservation work in Duhallow is coming soon.

It's that time of the year again :) I've just left our May flowers on the front doorstep. This old Irish custom involves gathering flowers on May Eve (or in some places on May day morning) and leaving them in front of the main threshold. It was believed to protect the house from harm or evil.

Happy Easter everyone!

Just because it’s Sunday, folks...!

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all our friends, families and followers. From everyone at UCD Rosemount. Enjoy the lovely weather. ☘️☘️☘️☘️

Just a quiz for the weekend, folks!

Waterbird ID Quiz Test your waterbird ID skills with this easy to moderate quiz. Questions are randomised so will change order each time the quiz is taken and slightly different questions may appear each time. If you are new to waterbird identification it could be good to take your first test without a guide then on....