NI wildlife thriving due to Covid lockdown serenity

While the Covid lockdown has allowed much of our animal and plant life to flourish, unprecedented levels of fly-camping, litter and wildfires have threatened some wildlife habitats.
Wildlife has been flourishing in many areas of Northern Ireland due to the large number of people observing the Covid lockdown rulesWildlife has been flourishing in many areas of Northern Ireland due to the large number of people observing the Covid lockdown rules
Wildlife has been flourishing in many areas of Northern Ireland due to the large number of people observing the Covid lockdown rules

According to the National Trust, grey seal numbers in Strangford Lough are at an all time high, and many plant species are thriving due to a drop in human activity.

However, spells of extreme weather and people’s destructive behaviour has meant that some wildlife has not fared so well.

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Tern numbers are said to be tumbling at a critical breeding site and both butterflies and red squirrel numbers are continuing to decline.

On the plus side, herons were seen on the lake at Mount Stewart during 2020 and badger cubs spotted playing in the grounds during daylight hours.

At Murlough Nature Reserve, rangers have reported an increase in Ringed Plover nests on the beach shingle – probably due to a reduction in disturbance from visitors.

Plants are also said to be thriving due to more people remaining closer to home, with delicate forest floor species – such as bluebells and wood anemones – flourishing in recent months.

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In a sight rarely seen at the Giant’s Causeway, reduced footfall on the stones has allowed the Sea Thrift, or ‘Sea Pink,’ to grow freely among the basalt columns.

National Trust lead ranger Toby Edwards said that one success story is the arrival of a breeding pair of barn owls, and now four chicks, just two years after nesting boxes were introduced on the Mount Stewart estate.

“It’s thought that there are less than 30 pairs of barn owls in Northern Ireland, with the species having been in decline here for some time,” he said.

“To begin to address this on a local level, Mount Stewart has been working in partnership with Barn Owls NI and Ulster Wildlife who have been working on barn owl conservation for over 10 years in Northern Ireland.

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“Since acquiring the Demesne at Mount Stewart in 2014, the Trust has introduced a number of nature-friendly farming measures that have benefitted a wide range of wildlife.

“The provision of barn owl boxes, retaining winter stubble and seeding bird cover margins alongside breeding locations has restored ideal conditions for barn owls to establish on the estate.”

The conservation charity is currently working on a number of projects to improve NI habitats, including the restoration of 890 hectares of priority habitat by 2025, and planting 125,000 trees – for the duel benefit of locking up carbon and providing access to woodland.

More information is available at www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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