Within our urban setting it is sometimes desirable to create habitats for birds and insects. Two of our members made it their mission this year to make owl boxes.
Hedge Laying: A priority for us this year was working on hedge rows to improve their ability to provide safe habitats. We have begun this task along Greenane from the Convent Bridge. Hawthorn is an ideal nesting habitat for birds if it is well maintained and thick, thus discouraging predators from gaining access to nests.
Owl Boxes: Last year the council installed owl nesting boxes along the Blueway, as of now, they remain vacant as does our owl box installed on a farm on the edge of town. We will continue to monitor and if they remain unused, reevaluate their position.
Installation of bee hotel from Bulmers: As part of our discussions with the Bulmers Environmental & Sustainability Lead Shane Kennedy, an offer of a bee hotel came up in conversation and we gladly accepted. We have installed it in McDonagh Crescent.
Discussions with the council had already resulted in an agreement by them to install owl boxes along the Blueway. This is part of their commitment to biodiversity. We felt it was a good opportunity for us to engage with local landowners about the importance of owls to farming and so two of our members, using plans from Birdwatch Ireland, built their first Owl box. It has been installed in a barn on farmland on the edge of town following advice from Albert Nolan.
