Features

Springtime Comings and Goings

Spring is a time of intense activity in the natural world, writes Martin Brennan.

With the arrival of spring and longer days we become conscious of an increased intensity of activity in the natural world. The seasons each have their characteristic phenomena by which they are recognised. It is, however, a gradual evolution from one to the next, without any dramatic event to mark either beginning or end. This results in an ever-changing landscape providing endless interest, activity and diversity.

Cobwebs

The dramatic display of intricately designed, dew-laden cobwebs draped over hedgerows and grassland on a frosty morning provides an aesthetically pleasing scene. It reveals the presence of a vast, invaluable spider population which largely goes unnoticed. Shorn of their clothing of leaves, the architectural character and beauty of trees are revealed in winter. Over the coming weeks they will once again produce new vegetation adding fresh, subtle shades of greenery to the landscape.

'Winter cuckoo'

Nature is generally silent in winter, but the distinctive bugle call of the Whooper Swan is the one sound which truly heralds winter, much as that of the Cuckoo does summer. It conjures up images of the northern wilderness areas whence it comes. The arrival of a range of other wildfowl and waders, in a generally southern movement, as cold and the search for food forces them from their breeding grounds, is characteristic of winter. Flocks of geese and swans grazing on pastureland or feeding on the water, in distinctive family groups, is a typical winter scene.

Arctic Swans

The Whooper Swan, one of two migratory species of swan which over-winter here, is a bird of remote areas in the far north. The Irish population breeds in the undisturbed wilderness of Iceland, moults and builds up reserves for the return flight to its regular wintering grounds here where it congregates in large numbers. Bewick's Swan, our second migratory swan, travels from the Tundras of Russia by the Arctic Ocean, to arrive at its wintering grounds, which are concentrated particularly along the eastern and southern parts of the country. Both species can be distinguished by their yellow and black bills - Bewick's displaying considerably less yellow than Whooper - and differ from the resident Mute Swan, our third, which has an orange bill with black base. While considerably less vocal than the visiting swans it is not mute as the name suggests.

Berry harvest

Wildfowl are not the only migratory birds to over-winter here. Two species of thrush also travel from northern climes to augment populations of the resident members of this family. Arriving in the autumn, Redwing and Fieldfare can be seen, generally in large mixed flocks, sometimes accompanied by Thrushes and Starlings, roaming the countryside in search of the rich profusion of berries provided by our hedgerows. Hawthorn, Rowan, Whitebeam, Holly, Yew and Ivy are the principal sources, with fallen fruit in orchards also attracting large flocks. Both bird species also forage in fields for worms and insects. They are more attractive and colourful than the native Song and Mistle Thrushes. Both species of thrush breed in northern Europe- the Redwing breeds in Iceland. Blackbird and Ring Ouzel - a rare summer migrant to upland areas in the north-west - comprise the remaining two of the six true thrush species occurring in Ireland.

Fieldfare

"flocking fieldfares, speckled like the thrush, Picking the red haw from the sweeping bush That come and go on winter's chilling wing And seem to share no sympathy with Spring". John Clare

Spring has now arrived and as the poet notes the fieldfare, together with the other winter migrants, will soon depart. As this general reverse northerly movement occurs throughout March and April, departing birds are replaced by species arriving from the south. These are the more familiar birds, particularly the Swallow and Cuckoo, best associated in the public mind with summer. A range of other species also return including House Martin, Sand Martin and Swift, a variety of Warblers and Terns, the rare Corncrake and a little later Flycatchers. With the arrival of these to compliment the resident songbirds, nature becomes vocal and presents one of the most appealing aspects of spring - birdsong and the daily dawn chorus. This annual migration is one of the great wonders of nature and represents just a single aspect of the seasonal interest and variation provided by the natural world. As we go about our daily lives we can marvel at the beauty, diversity, fragility and integrated nature of the world about us. In appreciation of the enrichment and inspiration that it provides we commit ourselves to its protection and careful management.

Martin Brennan is an environmental consultant living in Co. Sligo.

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