Longford wildlife sionnach rua.

14/05/2026

Pine martens coat gone dark brown now was very light brown few weeks ago

12/05/2026

THE SILENCE WHERE THE MEADOWLARK USED TO SING

A spring grassland should not feel empty.

By May, an American meadow should be alive with sound: Eastern Meadowlarks singing from fence posts, Bobolinks bubbling over the hay, Grasshopper Sparrows whispering from low grass, Savannah Sparrows flashing through the stems.

But in too many places, the songs are missing.

This is not imagination. North America has lost nearly 3 billion birds since 1970, and grassland birds have been among the hardest hit. A major 2019 Science study found grassland birds suffered the largest proportional loss of any breeding habitat group: about 53% gone, representing more than 700 million birds. Cornell’s public summary listed roughly 720 million grassland birds lost and 3 in 4 Eastern Meadowlarks gone since 1970.

The reason is not one single villain. It is the slow erasing of the places they need: native prairie converted to crops and development, pastures and hayfields replaced by row-crop systems, pesticides reducing insect food, and early mowing destroying nests hidden on the ground.

Eastern Meadowlarks nest directly in grass, building a domed cup so well hidden that most people could walk past without knowing a family is there.

So when a field falls silent, it is not just quieter.

It means a whole way of life is disappearing beneath our feet.

A meadow is not empty land waiting to be used.

It is a nursery.
A pantry.
A concert hall.

And right now, too many of its singers are gone.

12/05/2026

early morning hare

12/05/2026

is this a starling making the warning call for the pine marten

11/05/2026

Cuckoo (Cuach/ Cuculus canorus)

The cuckoo is a very illusive bird species. They can be often heard widespread through the country but are very seldom seen. The cuckoo is associated with the beginning of summer in Irish folklore. Their departure in late July/early August indicates the approach of the traditional harvest season.

It is said that “the cuckoo comes in April, she sings her song in May, then in June another tune, and in July she flies away.”

They migrate to Ireland from Africa each spring covering a distance of over 16,000km from Central Africa. They are a parasitic bird - they hijack the nests of other bird species, lay their own egg then leave the chick rearing duties to the adoptive parents. The Meadow Pipit is their preferred target in Ireland.

The cuckoo chick has a "spoon shaped" back and will instinctively try to push other eggs out of the nest to try and monopolise the attention and food supplies brought by their caretakers.

Words Sarah Barry
Photo Saxifraga - Rik Kruit

11/05/2026

This simple checklist could make all the difference for hedgehogs 🦔👇

What small step will you try at home?

Want more wildlife gardening advice?
Sign up to our “Let Nature In” campaign and get your free wildlife gardening starter pack, proudly supported by Field Day Ireland👉 https://loom.ly/seSaUg0

04/05/2026

Dead fish on dash / ballyminion river that leads into Camlin river mall longford if anyone sees any dead fish on this line of river please report it here or to inland fisheries as theres otters and many other species depend on this river and please share .

20/04/2026

18/04/2026

Early morning stroll

17/04/2026

Pine martens coat gets a bit lighter in colour this time of year

17/04/2026

nice looking dog fox