Biodiversity workshop for Tidy Towns groups

TIDY Towns groups from across the county will gather in Ennis next month. Clare County Council will host a Tidy Towns workshop on Saturday, November 4 from 10.30am to 1pm in the council chamber at Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis.

The community training and awareness-raising workshop will feature a slideshow presentation, talk and local walk focusing on biodiversity and birdlife and how Clare’s Tidy Towns groups can achieve higher marks in the annual competition, as well help to protect birdlife in their local communities.

Instruction will be given by experienced BirdWatch Ireland staff and local volunteers. Where there is local interest to erect nest boxes, guidance will be given on physical projects, involving the erection of Swift boxes and caller systems.

BirdWatch Ireland will be outlining details of the Swift Conservation Project, which is aimed at reversing the decline in population numbers throughout Ireland.

The recent Bird Atlas 2007-11 shows there has been a substantial loss in range in Ireland since 1970, while the latest Countryside Bird Survey data shows a 39% decline between 1998 and 2013.

Reasons for their decline remain unknown but it is thought that the loss of available nest sites, due to the renovations of old buildings and the impacts of climate change, could be significant factors.

Tidy Towns groups or organisations interested in attending the upcoming workshop are asked to contact Congella McGuire, heritage officer, Clare County Council, at cmcguire@clarecoco.ie or by telephone on 065 6846408.