Environment « Thurles Information

One Tipperary Crow Ain’t No “Birdbrain”.

We seem to be in the business of correcting erroneous concepts this week. We corrected the often-used idiom, “Blind as a Bat”, just 3 days ago, (April 17th) and now we turn our attention to that mild, yet commonly used insult “Birdbrain”, meaning a person is stupid, foolish, or scatter brained. This description also suggests that our feathered friends, the birds, are less smart than Homo sapiens, (Latin meaning – “Wise Man”).

Crows / Rooks are intelligent and opportunistic birds.
In the case of one Tipperary Crow [Rook (Corvus frugilegus)], despite his extremely untidy nest building skills, latter which is located nearby, and part of a noisy colony in the tops of high trees; trust me when I say that he is as “bright as button”, when it comes to scheming, planning and problem solving.

Rooks Are No Birdbrains from George Willoughby on Vimeo.

View the video, provided above, on full screen, and pay particular attention to the bird’s leg coordination, and see how one suet ball on a long string can be controlled and held in place, when spread across more than one tree branch.

Rooks resident near the Irish coast have figured it out that if they carry and drop cockles and mussels from a height onto rural, coastal, hard surfaces e.g. rocks and roads, they can then swoop down to consume the contents of the smashed shells.

In the South Pacific’s French territory of New Caledonia, crows have been shown to be smarter than children aged between 5 and 7, when it comes to problem solving.

So, next time you are categorised as a ‘birdbrain’, regard it as a compliment.

Thurles Rightly Allocates Ecological Real Estate To Bats

Work is well under way in relation to the clearing of the site for the new Thurles car park, situated on the ‘Money Side’, south of Liberty Square here in the town.

This development has involved a great deal of unseen, yet necessary planning and preparatory work, prior to its commencement; as Templemore/Thurles Municipal Engineer Mr Michael Tierney explained today.

All new development areas currently; even areas requiring just site clearance for a car park, must take into account fully those residing and using the area. And I am not just talking about humans, I this case I am also talking about wild life inhabitants who rightly use this area, and whose needs and well-being must also be also fairly considered. So, let’s take the case of the Thurles Daubenton’s Bat for example.

Note: Bats as we know, in general, are small, furry, intelligent animals often referred to as being like ‘Mice with Wings’. Indeed, almost one quarter of all land mammals’ resident here in Ireland are bats. Despite the often-used idiom, “Blind as a Bat”, indeed the contrary is true, as bats are far from being blind, having excellent vision and seeing perfectly well, while also truly taking possession of the night through their capability and use of sonar. Flying at high speeds bats listen using echolocation (biological sonar) and can locate insects faster than any of our much loved feathered friends; making their their appearance at dusk, when our insect activity is to be viewed in maximum throng. [And no girls, bats do not get tangled up in your long hair.]
We are aware that some seven different types of bats have been identified as residing here in our Emerald Isle. They are:- (A) The Lesser Horseshoe; (B) Pipistrelle (Latter the small common bat); (C) The not so common Natterer; (D) The Long Eared Bat; (E) The rare Whiskered Bat; (F) Ireland’s largest bats known as Leisler’s; and finally (G) Water bats called Daubenton’s, latter first described by the German naturalist and zoologist, Heinrich Kuhl, back in 1817, who named them in honour of the French naturalist Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton.

Pictured Left-Right: (1) Templemore/Thurles Municipal Engineer Mr Michael Tierney: (2) A Large Hibernation Colony Bat Box; (3) A Daubenton’s Bat.

The Daubenton’s Bat (Myotis daubentonii. Irish-Ialtóg uisce.)

The Daubenton’s bat is a Eurasian bat with short ears and is thankfully considered to be increasing their population growth in many areas. More often called the ‘water bat’, this species is easily recognised at dusk, flying just a few centimetres above the surface of our River Suir, latter which runs parallel slightly to the east of this new car park amenity. This species of bat can be spotted skimming above the surface in search of midges, caddisflies, moths, beetles, daddy long-legs, mayflies, earwigs, and spiders, and may even scoop prey from the very surface of the water. While other bats feed over and around water; none hold the same close association with water as do Daubenton’s, which can even swim, should it accidentally end up in the water.

While none of these bats have been identified as currently residing in the new car park’s immediate vicinity, new Hibernation Colony Bat Boxes have been installed just in case, since the area is part of their rich hunting ground. Bats never settle individually, preferring to live in colonies, so these boxes, high in the trees, now allow for large numbers of bats to congregate together, in a dry, safe place and are ideal for use as bat nurseries for their young.

Bats hibernate in the wintertime. This is necessary since there are not many insects available to eat during our Irish winters. When they hibernate, their heartbeat slows down, while their body temperature is also lowered. This helps them to save their energy and survive a cold winter.

Yes, we as humans remain the minds and the stewards of our everyday living world, and to avoid a catastrophic loss of biodiversity, we must fully realise that our own ultimate future, as living human beings, also depends upon our greater understanding of the natural environment and where necessary we must allocate and learn to share ecological real estate.

Is This What They Label As “Fake News”?

A new €2million initiative has been launched in an effort to boost tourism across ‘Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands’ region, with a promise of further funding to follow this initial €2m allocation.

‘Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands’ is the latest brand to be launched by Fáilte Ireland following their ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ and even less convincing ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’.

This ‘Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands’ promotion will covers parts of Leitrim, Roscommon, East Galway, East Clare, North Tipperary, Offaly, Westmeath, Longford and Cavan.

Same, we are informed will encourage tourism through the promotion of walking, cycling and boating, as well as fishing and other activities in and around towns and villages within the region. A series of food networks and trails will also be developed; with the flood prone River Shannon marketed together with Waterways Ireland to encourage tourism both on and off the river.

Today was obviously a slow news day everywhere; with national and local TV, Radio, Press and social media outlets, all grabbing the “Fake News” for their various publications.

Photo-shopped children appeared; jumping off boats into Lough Allen in one publication; in others a water scape showed a leaking waterlogged boat on a reeded shoreline, and all designed to drive visitor growth across the Midlands region, thus exposing the Midland’s rich natural assets, which includes our God given lakes, walkways and ‘Sunday Blueways’. (They are right in one stated fact; to immerse yourself in the heart of rural Ireland you do need a canoe.)

Is ‘Drive’ the Clue?
Sounds great, but it would appear that Fáilte Ireland’s members; their CEO Mr Paul Kelly and Mr Paul Keeley (Director of Commercial Development), apparently just don’t get “out and about”, much, anymore. While they have been sweating; involved “in months of extensive market testing”; gleaned they claim both from here (I can’t find one person contacted in North Tipperary, in relation to this new branding) and overseas, it would appear that most of the gathered information came from tourists abroad, and from persons who have never driven on Ireland’s secondary road surfaces.

Keep in mind that this new initiative, which has little for North Tipperary natives to get into a bee-like frenzy about, is expected to tap into that “off the beaten track” experience.

But perhaps the biggest chuckle, is that this new ‘Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands’ brand was officially launched by Mr Shane Ross, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport who sped down the M4 & M6 motorways for an announcement ceremony in Athlone, Co. Westmeath. (Home of Mr Kevin “Boxer” Moran).

Latter named Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, Minister Mr Kevin “Boxer” Moran, who first revealed the name of this new brand as ‘Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands’, declared it to be a beautiful name, which had proven very successful in pre-trials, (Me I would have preferred a more descriptive brand name myself, something like “The Deep Pot Holes, Beyond The Luas Line”

No, Mr Moran and Mr Ross made no mention of structural failures on off-motorway road surfaces, caused by flood water in the underlying soil structures; as they gazed grinning from behind a cardboard cut-out.

Why does my late grandmother’s dissenting description now echo and spring to mind; “Asses looking over a whitewashed wall”.

Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Decrease In 2017

Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions from EU Emissions Trading Scheme participants for first time since 2013.

Overall emissions of greenhouse gases from Irish Power Generation and Industrial Companies in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, decreased by 4.8% in 2017. This is the first overall decrease in emissions levels from these companies since 2013.
Emissions from the Power generation sector decreased by 8.2%, largely driven by the use of less coal and peat and a greater use of renewable energy.
Cement industry emissions increased by 2.1%.
Food and Drink industry emissions increased by 2.5%.

Ireland’s emissions from the 103 stationary facilities in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme were down by 4.8% in 2017 compared to 2016. This is compared to an increase of approximately 0.3 per cent across Europe. Emissions from the Irish power generation sector, down by 8.2%, contributed the major share of the decrease in emission levels. Emissions from the cement sector rose by 2.1% and from the food and drink industry sector rose by 2.5%.

Mr David Flynn, EPA Programme Manager, stated:
“This is the first time since 2013 that Ireland’s Emissions Trading Scheme emissions have shown a decrease. The decrease is principally due to a welcome reduction in the use of carbon-intensive fossil fuels in power generation and an increase in the use of renewable energy. These changes demonstrate a move in the right direction for the necessary transformation in Ireland’s energy system.
Although it is positive to see reducing carbon intensity in electricity generation, other sectors recorded higher emission levels. It is important that investment in low carbon technologies is made attractive for industry. A higher price for carbon will help to drive such investment. It is encouraging to see the carbon price is now above €10 per tonne following recent amendments to the Emissions Trading Scheme Directive for the period 2021-2030.”

In Ireland, 103 major industrial and institutional sites participate in the Emissions Trading Scheme. These include sites operating in the power generation, cement, lime, and oil refining sectors. Also included are large companies in sectors such as food & drink, pharmaceuticals and semi-conductors.

All companies participating in the scheme are required to report their emissions to the EPA by 31^st. March each year.

Details of the verified emissions of greenhouse gases in 2017 are available on the EU’s website. The data are not complete for all Member states.

Further details about Emissions Trading are available on the EPA website. Further information about Ireland’s total greenhouse gas emissions is also available on the EPA website.

The EPA has developed a useful Infographic entitled “The Simple Guide to Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions”.

Könnten Wir Bitte Ihre Leere Plastikflaschen Und Dosen Haben?

Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The city is regarded as the cultural centre of the Westphalia Region and renowned as the bicycle capital of Germany. Recently a friend of mine visited that lovely city and returned with the following true story.

Leading a group of some 20 other persons in Münster; my friend became aware that they were being followed, from a distance, by two elderly and possibly homeless persons. My friends group paused for a while at a nearby recognised picnic site, to consume some snacks and drinks, before being approached by these gentlemen, who inquired formally in German, “Könnten wir bitte ihre leere Plastikflaschen und Dosen haben?” One of the company who spoke the German language translated; “Please can we have your empty plastic bottles and cans”?

My friend explained that in Münster as indeed in Germany, a deposit refund system was in place, to repel the growing plastic waste crisis. Every drink can and plastic bottle collected, when returned to vendors, is rewarded by a payment of 15 cents each, which had been previously charged when the product was initially purchased. These two men would redeem €3.00, if 20 plastic or metal drink containers were returned to vendors.

The returned containers are then reused or recycled. This system of recycling has proven to be extremely effective in the recovering of up to 98% of all such containers.

Drink containers are the convenience packaging for products used for outdoor recreation.

Here in Ireland our metal cans and plastic drink containers are to be found dumped in every nook and cranny. “Tidy Towns” judges, together with the “Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL)”, regularly highlight the issue within towns and villages, but rural country areas remain ignored with same items dropped to roll around on our streets; to be thrown into our gardens and unto our road sides by passers-by and motorists; while also being dumped into our rivers and onto the 7,000km of our golden beaches, to become the flotsam and jetsam of “God knows where,” depending on the currents and Tides.

The “Repak Model” of recycling is seen as being adequate by a short sighted Irish Department of the Environment. However, while it may be profitable for Repak; do take a look around our streets and you will see Ireland operates a “one use and then litter” model, with immediate change now fundamentally crucial. It would appear that our appointed legislators are possibly under pressure, from waste collection business operators, latter who only manage to recycle about 39% of our cans and plastic bottles (given to them for free), leaving 61% (43,000 tonnes) to decorate our green landscape.

But imagine the difference it would make to our unspoiled coastal regions; our rural countryside, our villages, towns and cities, if a deposit refund system were to be put in place, in a state that is growing more and more dependent on regular foreign Tourism.

The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark have operated successful ‘deposit refund systems’ for years. The UK have just announced they are about to introduce a similar deposit refund scheme, while Ireland continues to drown in its own litter, dependent on individuals to come out, voluntarily, to pick up and clean up after those who dump their unwanted garbage.

God be with the late 50’s, when my friends and I would rush down to the village with our empty ‘Taylor Keith’ cochineal reddened, fizzy, lemonade bottles and with the refund, buy a few Peggy’s Legs or a few strawberry flavoured Bubble Gum Balls, [latter banned in my house because same were seen to be ‘dirty’ and ‘unmannerly’, according to my grandmother, especially “in front of other respectable visiting adults.”].

Here in Ireland we will probably have to wait until the EU make ‘deposit refund systems’ compulsory, and the sooner the better. Understandably reverse vending machines operating a deposit-and-return drinks container regime, is not as popular with our elected County Councillors, as are Parking Metres in our town centres.