Nature’sWebunderstorey and forest floor. Insects, birds, reptiles and mammals live here. Understorey Layer: This is a dark, cool layer where large-leaved plants are found and which

Year of the ForestYear of the ForestYear of the ForestYear of the Forest

INSIDE

THIS ISSUE...

Editor’s Page

Pheasant

The Intelligenceof Octopi

Insect Eyes

Rainforests

All in a Day’sWork – KieranQuirke, Coillte

Colour In – Picnicin the Forest

Wordsearch

Learn More

The WorldAround Us

Nature & Art

Fun Page

Fun in theForests

Orienteering

Nature’sNoticeboard

Issue No. 21 Spring 2011

Nature’sWeb

www.naturesweb.ie© 2011 Sherkin Island Marine Station & its licensors. All rights reserved.

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Method:• Combine all the ingredients for the

topping.• Place the fish on a grill pan and

spread topping over fillets.• Cook under a medium heat for 7-10

minutes.

Editor’s Page

Dear Reader,

Welcome everyone to theSpring issue of Nature’sWeb. In this issue wewanted to celebrateInternational Year of theForest by featuring therainforests, the work ofKieran Quirke of Coillte,the wonderful facilitiesCoillte’s forests have,particularly their sites fororienteering. John Joycetells us how intelligentoctopi are and we look atGordon D’Arcy’s newnature/art manual forschools. Check out naturenews from around theworld on page 11 and enjoya giggle with the jokes onpage 13.We would love to hear yourviews and comments andsuggestions for futurearticles. Have a good read!

Susan

Email:[email protected]: www.naturesweb.ieEditor:Susan Murphy WickensLayout and Design:Susan Murphy WickensPhotographs & Clipart:Copyright © 2011 SherkinIsland Marine Station & itslicensors. All rights reserved.Foreign Correspondent:Michael Ludwig

© Sherkin Island MarineStation 2011

Welcome to theSpring Edition ofNature’s Web!

www.naturesweb.ie Spring 2011

What youneed:4 fillets rainbow or sea trout1 carton natural yoghurt, Greek-styleif possibleGrated rind of a lemon1 teaspoon of freshly grated gingerSalt and freshly milled black pepper

Courtesy of BIM

© 2011 Sherkin Island Marine Station & its licensors. All rights reserved.

SEAFOODWITH SUPERTOPPINGS

Brought to you by BIM. For more fishrecipes visit www.bim.ie

SSSSpring is in the air and hopefully the coldweather of winter will be behind us soon.

Yet it will be hard for us to forget thefreezing temperatures and snowfalls at theend of 2010. Records were broken all aroundIreland and according to Met Éireann, it wasthe coldest December on record. The lowestDecember air temperature ever measured inthe country, -17.5oC, was recorded atStraide, Co. Mayo, on 25th December. Snowfell in almost all parts of the country, evenon Sherkin Island, which rarely sees snow.Why not download NASA’s image of Irelandand see if you can find where you live?

Ireland’s Big Freeze!Ireland’s Big Freeze!Ireland’s Big Freeze!Ireland’s Big Freeze!

Above: NASA’s satellite image of Ireland cover insnow on 22nd Dec 2010. Right & below: Snowscenes from Sherkin Island in December.

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A ColourfulA ColourfulA ColourfulA ColourfulVisitorVisitorVisitorVisitorOn Sherkin, my Dadloves feeding the birdsin the garden andkeeps the feeder wellstocked with seed. Itattracts many birdsbut in recent weeks hehas got more than hebargained for!Everyday, usually inthe morning, abeautiful malepheasant arrives topick at the seed on the ground. The little birds don’tseem to mind the pheasant, which Dad has namedGeorge, and they all happily feed together.


Bird Life


Fact FileFact FileFact FileFact FileColour: Female is brown, male has reddish-brown plumage with black bars on feathers. Hishead is a shiny green, black and violet colourand has red around the eyes. Also has whitecollar around the neck, but this may not bepresent on the least common race of the tworaces that are present in Ireland.Length: 70-90 cmDiet: Roots, berries, seeds, leaves and insects.Habitat: Woodlands, marshes, hilly areas,rough land and tillage farmland.

Scientific Name: Phasianus colchicusIrish Name: Piasún

Pheasant

TTTT he male pheasant is a very striking bird. He has beautiful reddish-brown plumage, a colourful head and neck and a long tail. The

female is very different as she has much plainer colouring and ashorter tail. Her paler brown plumage helps to camouflage her whenshe is on her nest, which she usually builds out of leaves and grass onthe ground. Sometimes however, she will roost on trees where she canbe safe from foxes. When out and about, pheasants spend the day onthe ground searching for roots, berries, seeds, leaves and insects.Pheasants are not native to Ireland but are a species which originallycame from Asia and were introduced into Ireland in the 16th century.There is no other bird in Ireland that is similar to the pheasant.Pheasants are gamebirds, which means they are hunted for food andfor sport.Top: The colourful male pheasant.

Above: The less colourful female.

What does it sound like?What does it sound like?What does it sound like?What does it sound like?A pheasant has a hoarse alarm call when it isfrightened, which sound like ke-tuk, ke-tuk. Itdecreases in strength when the bird flies off.

George might like the daffodils aswell as the bird see!

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Aquatic Life


The Intelligence of OctopiThe Intelligence of OctopiThe Intelligence of OctopiThe Intelligence of OctopiOOOOctopi have the largest

brains of all the animalswithout backbones.They also have eyes as complexas those found in humans andare masters of camouflage,changing their colour and skintexture almost instantaneously,to blend in with theirbackground.Experiments conducted on anoctopus named Frida at MunichZoo have shown that octopi canbe taught complex tasks, suchas unscrewing a jam jar to get atthe food inside, or even to worktheir way around mazes, the waya laboratory rat would.Observations on the matingbehaviour of octopi on a reefoff Indonesia in recent yearsshow that octopi engage insophisticated courtship ritualsincluding flirting, passionatehand holding and even keepingrivals away at arm’s length.The male octopus carefullyselects a mate and then guardsher den against all potentialrivals until mating takes place,after which he lives for only ashort time until the eggs hatch,and then he dies.Ireland has its own nativespecies called the “CurledOctopus”, which are normallyvery shy and difficult to find inthe wild. But you can see themon display in many of theexcellent public aquaria aroundthe country at Galway, Bray,Fenit or Dingle.

A Mind of its OwnA Mind of its OwnA Mind of its OwnA Mind of its OwnResearch conducted at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem shows thateach arm of an octopus has, quite literally, “a mind of its own”.Each arm has its own intelligence, powered by some 50 million nervebundles or “neurons” that allow it to perform complex movements setoff by a simple command from the octopus's brain.A severed octopus’s arm was even made to move realistically on its ownby tickling and stimulating the skin.

CaptainCockle’s LogCopyright John Joyce

2011

www.captaincockle.com


Animal Life


Insect EyesInsect EyesInsect EyesInsect EyesHow do insects see the world?How do insects see the world?How do insects see the world?How do insects see the world?

By Thomas Daguerre

HHHHave you ever looked at the bulging bug eyes of a fly, a wasp or a beetle andwondered how exactly they see the world? Whether, like people, they can see all

the amazing colours and shapes we see everyday?It is hard to answer these questions precisely as we cannot take the place of a bumble bee as it visitsflowers or an ant as it collects seeds. However, scientists have discovered a great deal about howthese small creatures see the world. It is as varied and incredible as the number of different types ofinsects that live in your garden.

ColourColourColourColourInsects see colours verydifferently to people. This isbecause most of them viewthe world in a differentcolour spectrum, calledultra violet, which makescertain colours stand out. Bees use ultraviolet to find flowers that have lots ofpollen in them and other insects, likebutterflies, use ultra violet to find a mate.

Big eyes & small eyesBig eyes & small eyesBig eyes & small eyesBig eyes & small eyesINSECT EYESINSECT EYESINSECT EYESINSECT EYESNormal sight in insects depends on two special organs - Compound eyesCompound eyesCompound eyesCompound eyesand simple eyessimple eyessimple eyessimple eyes.

The compound eyeThe compound eyeThe compound eyeThe compound eyeThe compound eyes of insects are themain organ of sight. The outer surfaceof each eye is formed by a number ofsmall lenses called facets. facets. facets. facets. They are in away similar to your pupil letting lightinto the eye. The number of facetsvaries from 1 in some insects to20,000 in others. If there are only afew facets they are circular in shape, but

in most insects there are many facets all packed closely together - in thiscase they are hexagonal like honeycomb. Behind each facet there is atube-like structure known as the ommatidiumommatidiumommatidiumommatidium. Each one of theseommatidium, or tubes, casts a small segment of the image captured bythe facet down into the eye. What this means is that the insect’s eyeproduces a kind of “pixellated” image, much like a digital photo or yourcomputer screen. When all the small pixels are combined an image iscreated.

The simple eyeThe simple eyeThe simple eyeThe simple eyeThe simple eye is also known as the ocelliocelliocelliocelli. Simpleeyes usually number 3 and are placed on the topof the insect’s head. As their name suggests, theyare very simple and can only detect light or dark.

A great variety of different vision exists in theinsect world. Next time you see a colourful beetle or a scuttling spider tryand think how they see you!

Robber fly

Caterpillar

Predatoryinsects, likethis Robberfly, have bigeyes allowingthem to seetheir prey.

Insects thatfeed on plantsoften havesmall eyes andare eaten bythe predatoryinsects.

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Plant Life

RainforestsRainforestsRainforestsRainforests

Rainforest LayersRainforest LayersRainforest LayersRainforest LayersEmergent Layer: This layer isconsists of trees that extend beyondthe canopy layer. They get the mostsunlight and provide a haven for smallanimals and birds.Canopy Layer: The top or crown oftrees form a ‘roof’ over theunderstorey and forest floor.Insects, birds, reptiles and mammalslive here.Understorey Layer: This is a dark,cool layer where large-leaved plantsare found and which also contains ashrub layer.Forest Floor: The darkest part ofthe forest, where little grows due tothe lack of light. The largest animalslive here and it is full of animal life,especially insects.


Hoh Rainforest, Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA, is a temperate rainforest.

Tropical RainforestsTropical RainforestsTropical RainforestsTropical RainforestsTropical rainforests are foundnear the equator. They occur inplaces where the weather is warmand humid, enabling thevegetation to grow thick and fast.In these forests rain falls nearlyevery day throughout the year,with over 200cm of rain fallingeach year. However, in somerainforests they have much.Thelargest rainforest in the world isthe Amazon Rainforest in SouthAmerica, which has about 280cmof rain each year.

Temperate RainforestsTemperate RainforestsTemperate RainforestsTemperate RainforestsTemperate rainforests are foundin temperate countries of theworld. They occur in eastern Northand South America, northeasternAsia, southern Australia andwestern and central Europe.Thedifference between summer andwinter temperatures in thesecountries is not too extreme - thesummers are not very hot nor arethe winters very cold. Yearlyrainfall in a temperate rainforestranges from 75 cm to 150 cm.

The areas in green mark the world’stropical rainforests.

Rainforest Facts:Rainforest Facts:Rainforest Facts:Rainforest Facts:• Rainforests once covered 14% of

the earth’s surface but now onlycover 6%.

• Rainforests are home to over halfthe world’s animals and plants andto native tribal people.

• Rainforests help to absorb thecarbon dioxide from the earth’satmosphere and convert it intoclean air for us to breathe.

• A quarter of the world’s medicinescome from rainforest plants.

• Rainforests are very importantfor the health of our planet.

The areas in green mark the world’stemperate rainforests.

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Where did your interest intrees come from?From childhood one of thefirst books I rememberreading was “Robin ofSherwood and his MerryMen”. This sparked myimagination and led to roleplaying with my brothersand sisters in a place calledCastlefreke Wood in WestCork. I think it was there I

gained a love for theoutdoors and trees inparticular.What training did you doto get where you aretoday?I went to University inWales where I completed adegree in Forestry. I thenworked as a contractor fora number of years in theforestry sector mainly

doing tree measurementsand timber volumeestimations. I joinedCoillte under a graduaterecruitment programmeand spent some timeworking in Wicklow,Wexford and am now basedhere in Castleisland inCounty Kerry.What type of work doyou do?My work is quite varied andmainly involves planning thetimber type and quantity tobe harvested from theforests to supply thesawmills. I make sure thatfelled areas are replantedto sustain timber supplyinto the future and that allour forests are kept cleanand visually attractive. Ialso manage forest

recreation areas, maintainforest walking trails, picnicbenches, viewing points etc.Another important part ofmy job is protecting andenhancing biodiversity areasassociated with the forests.Is there any rare orunusual wildlife in theforests you manage?Yes, the Hen Harrier, oneof Ireland’s and Europe’srarest birds of prey, nestsin young forests in theupland areas nearCastleisland. I protect thisspecies by minimising anydisturbances like harvestingclose to nest sites and bymaintaining a succession ofyoung forests.What is the best thingabout your job?The variety and being ableto work both indoors andoutdoors. One moment Icould be on the officecomputer and the next Icould be fighting a forestfire.What is the worst thingabout your job?I hate to see any dumping inthe forests. UnfortunatelyI regularly come acrosspiles of domestic waste, cartyres, sofas, mattresses,washing machines and burntout cars. I work with litterwardens and the Gardai totry and eliminate thisdumping.What would you do if youweren’t doing what youdo?Boatbuilding……….. with woodof course!.

Kieran Quirke, Forest Manager, CoillteKieran Quirke, Forest Manager, CoillteKieran Quirke, Forest Manager, CoillteKieran Quirke, Forest Manager, Coillte

All in a Day’s Work


PROFILEPROFILEPROFILEPROFILEKieran Quirke is a forestmanager working for Coillte,the Irish Forestry Board.His work involves thesustainable management oftrees and theirenvironment.


Photographs courtesy of Coillte

Clockwise from top: Deer in the forest;Cutting timber; Firefighting exercise;The forests of Ireland.


Colour In


Picnic in the ForestPicnic in the ForestPicnic in the ForestPicnic in the Forest

9

Nature’s Web Wordsearch


F M Z T L J N R T Z Q L M V L L U I

X P E Y N A W O A F M A C G J M A N

P L T T R A C O C H Q C N E L L E S

E K N T E Z S Z N R J I L K K Y E E

H K U I L I T A A S R P H R I F O C

N R E K H I R I E E W O I I C Y V T

E D P R L P N E E H Z R Q U O Q V E

G M W B J F L T A A P T Z Q D T U Y

N M O Z O H N O M N I J Y N N M C E

O I Q R U E O T D M N S B A P D O S

B K E M I C P C J N Y D P R L P I T

T S E R O F E H T F O R A E Y D L W

T Q O C F N E D E O M M T I A Z L Z

E T A R E P M E T Q P K M K X I T S

G I G L S E A F O O D U U O B Q E C

H U M M I N G B I R D P S L C E K E

Y T N O M K N F Q W Q K Q I I L M Y

B R U I C C B K V L N M H M Q S Y K

BioBlitz

Coillte

CommonDolphin

Hummingbird

Insect Eyes

Kieran Quirke

Met Éireann

Monty

NartURE

Octopus

Orienteering

Pheasant

Rainforest

Seafood

Snow

Temperate

Tropical

Year of theForest

Try out this giant wordsearch containing wordsfound in this issue of the newsletter.

Nature’s Web SpringNature’s Web SpringNature’s Web SpringNature’s Web Spring2011 Wordsearch2011 Wordsearch2011 Wordsearch2011 Wordsearch

SOLUTIONS: (Over,Down,Direction) BioBlitz (1,11,NE); Coillte (17,9,S); Common Dolphin (15,16,NW);Hummingbird (1,16,E); Insect Eyes (18,1,S); Kieran Quirke (14,14,N); Met Eireann (2,1,SE); Monty (5,17,W);Narture (7,1,SW); Octopus (7,10,SE); Orienteering (3,13,NE); Pheasant (11,8,NW); Rainforest (10,4,SW); Seafood(5,15,E); Snow (10,5,NW); Temperate (9,14,W); Tropical (12,8,N); Year of the Forest (15,12,W).


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Learn More


Met Éireann: www.met.ie

Pheasant: http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/Default.aspx?tabid=309http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/p/pheasant/

Octopus: http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=3248

Insect Eyes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_eye_in_invertebrateshttp://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compound_eye

Rainforests: http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/index.shtmlhttp://kids.mongabay.com/elementary/001.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/habitats/Tropical_and_subtropical_moist_broadleaf_forests#p0039zg5http://www.primaryscience.ie/activities_discover_centres_table.php

Forests & Coillte: http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/ www.coillte.ie www.coillteoutdoors.ie www.treecouncil.ie

Monty the Dog: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/monty-the-dog-given-pacemaker-for-life-threatening-heart-condition/story-e6frf7kx-1226016826231

BioBlitz: http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/home-page/irelands-bioblitz/

Common Dolphins: http://www.iwdg.ie/species_profiles.asp?speciesID=2254

Gordon D’Arcy: http://www.burrencollege.ie/faculty/gordondarcy.html

Orienteering: www.orienteering.ie

We cannot be responsible for the content of external websites, so please observe due care when accessing any site on the internet.

Useful Web AddressesThere are lots of websites to be found on the internet that will give you furtherinformation on topics we have covered in this newsletter. Here are a few thatmay be of interest:


A Beginner’s Guide toIreland’s Seashore is apocket-sized guide, suitablefor beginners of all ages. Thisbook will help you to explorethe wonders of marine lifefound on theshores aroundIreland.

Only €8.00includingpostage

Sea Life DVD:Sea Life DVD:Sea Life DVD:Sea Life DVD:““““On the Water’s Edge”On the Water’s Edge”On the Water’s Edge”On the Water’s Edge”

Sherkin Island Marine Stationhas launched a dvd called‘On the Water’s Edge’. It ismade up of a short film on lifebeside the sea and is presented by AudreyMurphy. It includes 6-10 hours of interactivematerial for children of all ages. Availablefrom: Sherkin Island Marine Station, SherkinIsland, Co. Cork. €13.30 including postage.

To order books, email the order to [email protected] to receivea Paypal invoice or send your name and address along with a cheque orpostal order made payable to Sherkin Island Marine Station to:

Sherkin Island Marine Station, Sherkin Island, Co.Cork, Ireland.

Only €2.10each

includingpostage or

€12.00 for allseven!

32pp each

A Beginner’s Guide to Ireland’s Wild FlowersHave you ever wanted to put aname to the wild flowers yousee about you every day, orwhile on a walk, or on holiday?With the help of this pocket-sized guide, you will be able todo just that. Beginners of allages will be introduced to the many commonwild flowers found around Ireland. 206pp

Only €8.50 including postage

Sherkin Island Marine Station has published arange of colouring books, guides and activitybooks for children. Each 32-page Colouring &Guide Book gives you the chance to colour,identify and learn about the wildlife aroundIreland. My Nature Diary contains lined pages tofill in a daily record of sightings and nature news.

“An A to Z of Geology” explores the fascinating worldof rocks and geology – a world of volcanoes, tsunamis,earthquakes, diamonds, gold and even dinosaurs!Produced by Sherkin Island Marine Station, inassociation with the Geological Survey of Ireland, thebook aims to highlight the importance of geology in oureveryday lives.

Only €5.99 plus €1.00 postage

11

A 1,000 Common Dolphins off Cork CoastA 1,000 Common Dolphins off Cork CoastA 1,000 Common Dolphins off Cork CoastA 1,000 Common Dolphins off Cork CoastThe Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) receiveda report from Mícheál Cottrell (from Baltimore, Co.Cork). He was hauling nets on a commercial fishingboat in mid-February, off the Old Head of Kinsale inCo. Cork, and his skipper shouted to him that a hugepod (herd) of Common Dolphins was "working"(feeding) in the area. There were at least 1,000dolphins in the pod and they could be seen on the fishing boat’sradar. They appeared to cover an area of about 0.75 x 1.5 nauticalmiles. According to the IWDG, Common Dolphins have a behaviour(practice) of feeding in teams. It appears that they have learnedthat it is far easier to find food if they co-operate with eachother rather than striking off on their own. Cooperation is good!

“ForeignCorrespondent”Michael Ludwigreports on some

interestinggoings on in thenatural world.


The World Around Us


Celebrating International Year of the ForestCelebrating International Year of the ForestCelebrating International Year of the ForestCelebrating International Year of the ForestNational Tree Week, which is organised by The Tree Council ofIreland, has just celebrated its week-long celebration of trees in ourlives and environment. This year the theme of the week was ‘The Yearof the Forest - Celebrating Forests for People’ in keeping with theUnited Nations’ ‘International Year of the Forest’. The Tree Council ofIreland tell us that even though Ireland has made great advances inthe past 100 years, it is still the least wooded country in Europe. Only11% of our land is covered in trees, compared to an average of 40% inthe rest of Europe. Ireland has agreed to plant moretrees so that our forests will cover 17% of thecountry by 2035. To learn more about woodlands,check out the ‘Balrath Project’ on www.treecouncil.ie/schools.html. The Tree Council of Ireland, along withMeath County Council, are developing Balrathwoodland in Co. Meath as an ‘outdoor classroom’.

Take part in a BioBlitz!Take part in a BioBlitz!Take part in a BioBlitz!Take part in a BioBlitz!In the Spring 2010 issue of Nature’sWeb we featured Biodiversity(Biological Diversity - the differencebetween all living things on Earth). Tolearn a little more about biodiversityyou can take part in a BioBlitz, aunique event where scientists,students and the general public cancome together and learn howscientists and observers use theirskills to study the wildlife of an area.It will also introduce the non-specialist to the fabulous wealth ofbiodiversity that occurs all around us.BioBlitz is a scientific race againsttime. It is a fun event to find as manyspecies as possible within a park over a24 hour period. It begins at 17.00 hrson 20th May 2011 and finishes at17.00 hrs on 21st May 2011 at fivevenues around the country:• Ballycroy National Park, Co Mayo• Dromore Woods, Co Clare• Killarney National Park, Co Kerry• Raven National Nature Reserve/

Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, CoWexford

• Waterstone Park, Dublin 7From soaring eagles to the smallestbugs in the undergrowth,teams of scientistsand volunteers willcomb the parksrecording what theyfind. Each state-ownedproperty will have adifferent group vying forthe title of BioBlitz 2011Champions, with each sitepitted against one another tosee which property can find mostspecies.Visit http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/home-page/irelands-bioblitz/ for information onlast year’s event and to get moredetails about this year’s BioBlitz.

For the love of a dog!For the love of a dog!For the love of a dog!For the love of a dog!Monty, the Bichon fries, hadserious heart pump problemsbut his love for his ownersnever lessened and neither didtheirs. So when the Veterinarian saidMonty's heart needed a little help to keep aregular heart beat his owners said "yes" anda pacemaker was installed. A pacemaker is adevice which uses electrical impulses totrigger and regulate the heart’s beat. Montyproblems were unusual because he needed atwo chamber pacemaker. The implant is thefirst of its kind in a dog but Monty and hisowners didn't care. And, Monty is againmischievous and up for some fun. He lovesplaying and is always ready for adventures!

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Nature & Art



Narture is available from Gordon D’Arcy, Killeenaran,Kilcolgan, County Galway, Ireland. It costs €25.00 percopy (plus €3.50 p&p per copy).For further information contact Gordon D’Arcy directlyat [email protected]

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new step-by-step guide, designedfor primary school teachers,parents and children offers a widerange of educational material tohelp learn about Ireland’s nature.The manual is easy to use and giveslots of information and ideas thatcan be incorporated into the schoolyear – for all class levels.The manual is also great fun. Theauthor, Gordon D’Arcy is a wildlifeartist with 25 years of experienceand so there are also wonderful tipsfor drawing animals included. Heworks with ‘Starter Shapes’ foreach animal, giving the brain thechance to ‘see’ the entire imagebefore starting and then allowingthe children's imagination to ‘kick-in’. Here are some sample pagesfrom the manual.

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Think of a Title!Think of a Title!Think of a Title!Think of a Title!

Fun Page

How much did you learn?How much did you learn?How much did you learn?How much did you learn?The answers to all these questions can be found in theThe answers to all these questions can be found in theThe answers to all these questions can be found in theThe answers to all these questions can be found in the

newsletter...see if you can remember!newsletter...see if you can remember!newsletter...see if you can remember!newsletter...see if you can remember!

1 What was the theme of the Tree Council of Ireland’sNational Tree Week?

2 How many people visit Coillte’s forests each year?

3 Name the two organs that insects depend on to see.

4 What breed of dog is Monty, who was recently fittedwith a pacemaker?

5 Which fruit is used in BIM’s seafood recipe?

6 You can learn a lot about nature by combining natureand what?

7 How many venues will be holding a BioBlitz in May?

8 Which is more colourful, the male or female pheasant?

9 Name the first book Kieran Quirke remembers reading?

10 What is Ireland’s native species of octopus known as?

11 Which gets more rainfall, the tropical or temperaterainforests?

12 Who saw the large herd of Common Dolphins off theOld Head of Kinsale recently?

13 What is the lowest December air temperature ever recordin Ireland (on 25th December 2010)?

14 Who declared 2011 as International Year of the Forest?

15 Gordon D’Arcy is a stone mason. True or false?

16 Which rare bird of prey nests in young forests nearCastleisland, Co. Kerry?

17 What three simple things do you need for orienteering?

Can you thinkup a caption

for thisphotograph ofa Broad-billedHummingbird?

What do you get if you crossWhat do you get if you crossWhat do you get if you crossWhat do you get if you crossa parrot with a shark?a parrot with a shark?a parrot with a shark?a parrot with a shark?

A bird that will talk your ear off.


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Spot the five differences!Spot the five differences!Spot the five differences!Spot the five differences!

What do you get if youWhat do you get if youWhat do you get if youWhat do you get if youcross an insect and a dance?cross an insect and a dance?cross an insect and a dance?cross an insect and a dance?

A cricket ball .

What did the worm say to theWhat did the worm say to theWhat did the worm say to theWhat did the worm say to theother when he was late home?other when he was late home?other when he was late home?other when he was late home?Where in earth have you been?

What does a snail say when it’sWhat does a snail say when it’sWhat does a snail say when it’sWhat does a snail say when it’sriding on a turtle’s back?riding on a turtle’s back?riding on a turtle’s back?riding on a turtle’s back?

Weeeeee!

Eleven ducks shared one umbrella, yetEleven ducks shared one umbrella, yetEleven ducks shared one umbrella, yetEleven ducks shared one umbrella, yetnone got wet. How did they manage?none got wet. How did they manage?none got wet. How did they manage?none got wet. How did they manage?

It wasn’t raining.

Why were the flies playingWhy were the flies playingWhy were the flies playingWhy were the flies playingfootball in saucers?football in saucers?football in saucers?football in saucers?

They were playing for the cup.

Why do cows wear bellsWhy do cows wear bellsWhy do cows wear bellsWhy do cows wear bellsaround their necks?around their necks?around their necks?around their necks?

Because their horns don’t work.

Answers: (1) “The Year of the Forest – Celebrating Forests for People”; (2) Over18 million; (3) Compounds eyes & simple eyes; (4) Bichon Fries; (5) Lemon;(6) Art; (7) Five; (8) Male; (9) “Robin of Sherwood and his Merry Men”;(10) Curled Octopus; (11) Tropical; (12) Mícheál Cottrell; (13) -17.5

o; (14) The

United National General Assembly; (15) False (he is a wildlife artist and author);(16) Hen Harrier; (17) A map, a compass and your brain.


Conservation


Fun in the ForestsFun in the ForestsFun in the ForestsFun in the ForestsFFFForests are very important to us.

• They provide us with materials tobuild, furnish and heat our homes.

• They help to produce the oxygenwe breathe.

• They are one of our mostimportant wildlife habitats andprovide homes for vast numbersof plant and animal species.

• They prevent air pollution byabsorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

• They stabilise the soil, helping to prevent landslides, andabsorb excess ground water, helping to prevent flooding.

• Not only do they do all these things, but they also provide uswith beautiful amenities for us to enjoy.

Coillte, Ireland's leading forestry company, welcomes over eighteenmillion visitors to its forests each year. There are ten forest parksand more than 150 recreation sites which provide lots ofopportunities for outdoor recreation. You can enjoy such things aswalking, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, fishing and nature watching.

International YearInternational YearInternational YearInternational Yearof the Forest 2011of the Forest 2011of the Forest 2011of the Forest 2011

2011 has been declared“International Year of theForest” by the United NationsGeneral Assembly “to raiseawareness on sustainablemanagement, conservation andsustainable development of alltypes of forests”. In otherwords, that people are madeaware of the importance ofusing and protecting forests insuch a way that they will bethere for future generations.

Forest activities to get you outdoorsForest activities to get you outdoorsForest activities to get you outdoorsForest activities to get you outdoorsWalking & HikingWalking & HikingWalking & HikingWalking & HikingAll the trails across the country are graded. You choose aneasy, moderate or strenuous route and information is alsogiven on the length, expected time, expected climb andwhether linear or loop of each trail. You can choose fromnumerous walks around the country, from the SaltMarsh Trail in Ards Forest Park, Co. Donegal to theLake Walk in Castlefreke Woodlands, Co. Cork.

CyclingCyclingCyclingCyclingCoillte manages many kilometres of walking and cycletrails which are all listed, along with a downloadablemap with details of length and grade.

OrienteeringOrienteeringOrienteeringOrienteeringCoillte has a number of permanent orienteering courses intheir forests for people to use (see page 15).

Leave No TraceFor everyone visiting forest, it isimportant to:• Leave No Trace• Plan ahead and

prepare• Be considerate of others• Respect farm animals and

wildlife• Travel and camp on durable

surfaces• Leave what you find• Dispose of waste properly• Minimise the impacts of fireMore information is available onwww.coillteoutdoors.ie.

Tips for the OutdoorsTips when using the forest parks& recreational sites:• Be weather aware.• Keep your gear dry on the trail.• Keep warm with layers.• Check out the website for a

handy map tips andessentials youshould bring.

Courtesy of Coillte

15

Special Feature



OrienteeringOrienteeringOrienteeringOrienteeringWhat is it?What is it?What is it?What is it?

TTTT he Irish Orienteering Association describes orienteering insimple terms as finding your way from one point to another,

using only a map, a compass and your brain. Orienteering is usuallydone in the woods, hills or parks, with the participants on foot.At a typical organised Orienteering event, several courses of varyingdifficulty are laid out in the woods by the event organisers. Each course consists of a series ofcheckpoints (or “controls”) marked by a brightly coloured, distinctive Orienteering flag. Participantsare given a map with the locations of the checkpoints circled. The starting place, the sequence in whichyou visit the controls, and the finish location are also shown. Then, using the map and a compass, it's upto the participant to find his or her way from one control point to another in the order specified.The Irish Orienteering Association welcome beginners. If you would like to try it, check out theirwebsite www.orienteering.ie for information.

WWWWith the help of local orienteering clubs, Coilltehas set up a number of permanent

orienteering sites at various forests around thecountry. Coillte’s sites cater for orienteers in thebeginners, intermediate and experienced categoriesand course maps for each category are available fordownload. These courses are an ideal way ofintroducing children and adults to orienteering. Goat your own pace and spend as much time as you likefiguring out the map and navigating to the controls.Permanent orienteering courses can be used for amore adventurous family stroll, or for training togain confidence away from the pressure of moreorganised orienteering competitions.The forest habitat provides a wonderful opportunityto learn more about nature. To facilitate this,Coillte have developed educational resource materialfor use at some of their sites: Hellfire Club (Co.

Dublin), Carrickgollogan(Co. Dublin), Farran

Forest Park (Co. Cork)and Lough Key ForestPark (Co. Roscommon).

The pages for these sites include the followinginformation:• Primary and Secondary School Course maps• a work book, based on the primary science

curriculum,• a more advanced workbook for

second level, junior cycle students,and,

• Teachers’ Answer Sheets• Check them out at www.coillteoutdoors.ie

Farran Forest Park, Co. Cork, (see map) one of thepermanent orienteering sites which Coillte has set up and forwhich they have developed educational resource material forschools. Check out www.coillteoutdoors.ie for information.

Permanent OrienteeringPermanent OrienteeringPermanent OrienteeringPermanent OrienteeringSites in ForestsSites in ForestsSites in ForestsSites in Forests

Orienteering is considered a competitive sportby some but for many casual walkers it is arecreational activity. People come out alone,with friends, or with family, admiring theview and taking time to appreciate nature. Itcan be considered a walk with some mentalchallenge added.

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16

Sherkin Island Marine Station would like to thank Sherkin Island Marine Station would like to thank Sherkin Island Marine Station would like to thank Sherkin Island Marine Station would like to thank PharmaChemical IrelandPharmaChemical IrelandPharmaChemical IrelandPharmaChemical Irelandfor their support in making this newsletter possible. We would like to thankfor their support in making this newsletter possible. We would like to thankfor their support in making this newsletter possible. We would like to thankfor their support in making this newsletter possible. We would like to thankthose who have contributed to this newsletter especially Gillian Conroy,those who have contributed to this newsletter especially Gillian Conroy,those who have contributed to this newsletter especially Gillian Conroy,those who have contributed to this newsletter especially Gillian Conroy,Thomas Daguerre, Gordon D’Arcy, John Joyce, Michael Ludwig, MattThomas Daguerre, Gordon D’Arcy, John Joyce, Michael Ludwig, MattThomas Daguerre, Gordon D’Arcy, John Joyce, Michael Ludwig, MattThomas Daguerre, Gordon D’Arcy, John Joyce, Michael Ludwig, MattMurphy, Robbie Murphy, Kieran Quirke and Jez Wickens.Murphy, Robbie Murphy, Kieran Quirke and Jez Wickens.Murphy, Robbie Murphy, Kieran Quirke and Jez Wickens.Murphy, Robbie Murphy, Kieran Quirke and Jez Wickens.

Try to identify theTry to identify theTry to identify theTry to identify thefirst few wildfirst few wildfirst few wildfirst few wild

flowers that youflowers that youflowers that youflowers that youfind in bloom thisfind in bloom thisfind in bloom thisfind in bloom this

spring.spring.spring.spring.

Nature’s Noticeboard!

Spring 2011


Take a pictureTake a pictureTake a pictureTake a pictureof a stone wallof a stone wallof a stone wallof a stone wall

near yournear yournear yournear yourhome andhome andhome andhome and

using the ideasusing the ideasusing the ideasusing the ideasfrom Gordonfrom Gordonfrom Gordonfrom Gordon

D’Arcy on pageD’Arcy on pageD’Arcy on pageD’Arcy on page12, try to reproduce it on a large12, try to reproduce it on a large12, try to reproduce it on a large12, try to reproduce it on a largesheet of cardboard (e.g. a largesheet of cardboard (e.g. a largesheet of cardboard (e.g. a largesheet of cardboard (e.g. a large

box, flattened out).box, flattened out).box, flattened out).box, flattened out).

Search the web andSearch the web andSearch the web andSearch the web anddiscover fivediscover fivediscover fivediscover five

animals that livesanimals that livesanimals that livesanimals that livesin a rainforest.in a rainforest.in a rainforest.in a rainforest.

Visit a forest to markVisit a forest to markVisit a forest to markVisit a forest to markInternational Year of theInternational Year of theInternational Year of theInternational Year of the

Forest 2011.Forest 2011.Forest 2011.Forest 2011.

Design aDesign aDesign aDesign asmall orienteeringsmall orienteeringsmall orienteeringsmall orienteering

trail in your garden.trail in your garden.trail in your garden.trail in your garden.Draw a map of yourDraw a map of yourDraw a map of yourDraw a map of your

garden, clearlygarden, clearlygarden, clearlygarden, clearlyshowing North,showing North,showing North,showing North,

South, East & West.South, East & West.South, East & West.South, East & West.Give instructions toGive instructions toGive instructions toGive instructions tofind a second set offind a second set offind a second set offind a second set of

instructions e.g.instructions e.g.instructions e.g.instructions e.g.1. take 10 step north1. take 10 step north1. take 10 step north1. take 10 step north2. take 5 steps southwest2. take 5 steps southwest2. take 5 steps southwest2. take 5 steps southwest3. take 8 steps east.3. take 8 steps east.3. take 8 steps east.3. take 8 steps east.

The second set of instructionssThe second set of instructionssThe second set of instructionssThe second set of instructionssshould leadshould leadshould leadshould lead

those playingthose playingthose playingthose playingto find theto find theto find theto find the

third and sothird and sothird and sothird and soon until theon until theon until theon until the

final set leadsfinal set leadsfinal set leadsfinal set leadsthem to thethem to thethem to thethem to the

treasure.treasure.treasure.treasure.


????

To think about whatTo think about whatTo think about whatTo think about what

you can change inyou can change inyou can change inyou can change in

your daily life toyour daily life toyour daily life toyour daily life to

benefit the planet bybenefit the planet bybenefit the planet bybenefit the planet by

taking part in taking part in taking part in taking part in EarthEarthEarthEarth

Hour Hour Hour Hour on 26th March.on 26th March.on 26th March.on 26th March.

www.earthhour.orgwww.earthhour.orgwww.earthhour.orgwww.earthhour.org

Try to buy Easter eggsTry to buy Easter eggsTry to buy Easter eggsTry to buy Easter eggsthat have less packagingthat have less packagingthat have less packagingthat have less packaging

so that you have toso that you have toso that you have toso that you have torecycle less.recycle less.recycle less.recycle less.

Documents

Nature’sWebunderstorey and forest floor. Insects, birds, reptiles and mammals live here. Understorey Layer: This is a dark, cool layer where large-leaved plants are found and which