North Bull Island Nature Reserve Volunteers

10/03/2021

Some more gorgeous shots by volunteer Sean Fagan
IG:
These two male Stonechats were spotted at the end of the St Anne’s Golf Course on the north of the island.

16/01/2021

A lovely read in the Irish Times by Pól O Chonghaile.

Afterwards, the walls caused deposits of sand and silt to pile up at the North Bull. Bit by bit, the island has grown into a billowy, sandy, grassy oasis that looks like it has been in Dublin Bay forever.

15/01/2021

Dublin Bay Biosphere is an ecosystem home to many rare and important species of wildlife. The Biosphere holds significant environmental, economic, cultural and tourism importance. Extending over 300km², more than 300,000 people live within the Biosphere and contribute to its ecological value.

20/11/2020

Write a caption for this fantastic photo by volunteer Seán Fagan in the comments!

We thought “Ladies and Brentlemen” 😂

20/09/2020

It's that time of year again and the sea buckthorn is a blazen with bright orange vitamin rich fruits! The berries are supposed to have 10 times move vitamin C than oranges!
We welcome all foragers to come to North Bull Island and fill your baskets with these berries. We recommend that you adhere to all government guidelines for covid 19 safety and social distancing. We must keep each other safe!
Sea buckthorn an invasive which causes huge problems for the island's local floral community. Every Berry removed from the island is the potential of another plant gone!

12/07/2020

The common or viviparous lizard is Ireland’s only native reptile! Unlike most others, it gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs. If you’re lucky you can spot one sunning itself on the north bull island over the summer.

This photo is courtesy of one of our volunteers, Ross.

22/05/2020

Many of us volunteers have not been able to visit our wonderful North Bull Island during these trying times. This makes the news of the recent fire all the more saddening.

We are happy to let you know that the area that was burnt was thankfully kept to a minimum by the fantastic team from North Strand fire station, Dublin fire brigade. Even more thankfully it did not encroach much into the nesting areas. This time we and our beautiful birds were lucky not to lose more.

Photo is a Meadow pipit taken by our volunteer Martina Caplice

02/05/2020

If you're visiting the Island this weekend, please check out the signs for advice on helping to protect our nesting birds. 🐦❤️ (Image: Skylark by Shay Connolly, courtesy of Birdwatch Ireland).

01/05/2020

Great news! We have birds nesting on our beaches at the moment. To help protect them, please avoid the dunes and be careful when walking or cycling on the beach and keep dogs on leads at all times. Thanks so much!.😎🤓🧐👍
Image: Ringed Plover by Craig Nash, image courtesy of Birdwatch Ireland

25/03/2020

Here is a fun little Quiz to help pass the time.

I will post the answers in the comments in a couple of hours!
Enjoy!

21/03/2020

Our reality is altered for the moment so lets alter our behaviour accordingly. Think before you do! Self preservation, social distancing, hand hygiene and cough etiquette to protect our vulnerable. We can get through this together by staying apart! ❤️

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158149690656665&id=751236664

Reality has temporarily shifted, and everyone gets to choose how to react. Emergency services personnel, however, do not have that choice; their actions are informed by your choices. On behalf of the entire emergency services family, we're asking you to think before you choose.

Choose to keep your distance. COVID-19 has put social distance into conversation for a reason. Intensive care and ventilators don't hold the solution to COVID-19; not contracting COVID-19 does. Social distance, hand hygiene, and cough etiquette will help you avoid it.

Choose not to get lost. Go to places you're familiar with, plan your activity, and stick to safe routes and activities. The outdoors is a big place and it'll be there for a long time. Please, for now, make the sensible, safe choice.

Choose not to get injured. Really, think about this. Even if you're a world-class social distancer, getting injured will bring you into contact with a lot of people. Worse than that, you'll most likely end up in hospital. Right now, the less work our hospitals get the better.

Choose not to block forest barriers. Mountain rescue, and other emergency services, use these barriers to access incidents quickly. Think about it, if you're part of that incident, how quickly do you want help?

Your choices have a big impact on all of us. Giving up a little freedom now will be better for everyone in the long term. Think before you choose how to spend your weekend. Solidarity, not selfishness, is the name of the game. Thank you.