A conservation warden has confirmed that a breeding pair of Greater Spotted woodpeckers and their offspring are there, after reports from hikers that they were regularly banging on a dead tree trunk.
The chicks are getting more chatty every day as they get ready to fly, even though the precise location or tree has not been disclosed.
Since the birds were observed during the previous three weeks, there has been “huge excitement” in Killarney National Park, according to Eamonn Meskell, the Divisional Manager of NPWS.
“Mature tree habitats are preferred by woodpeckers, and their characteristic hammering sound signifies that they are making a home for themselves. Additionally, Killarney's old oak trees offer the ideal habitat for them to nest and eat,” Mr. Meskell continued.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Killarney, like other regions, lost vast tracts of oak and other woodland, and the Great Spotted Woodpecker eventually went extinct in Ireland.
In the Tomies Wood region on the park's westernmost edge, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen for the first time in Killarney National Park's history in 2013.
First confirmed breeding of the Great Spotted Woodpecker at Killarney National Park and Co. Kerry 👇 https://t.co/DKGbvcMGOh
— National Parks and Wildlife Service (@NPWSIreland) May 10, 2024
The first known nesting activity in the park's central region has been confirmed by the woodpeckers at their new habitat.
Sam Bayley, a Conservation Ranger with the Killarney NPWS, verified breeding while doing bird ringing in the park as part of a BTO programme.
Following this, park visitors who like watching nature and birds reported seeing chicks.
“Stories like this reflect some of the unexpected treasures that can be found in our National Parks and Nature Reserves, and that our staff is working hard to protect,” stated Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General of NPWS.
The Great Spotted Woodpecker resembles a starling in size. The ladies and males have crimson red undersides to their tails and are black and white overall.
With their elongated, sticky tongues, woodpeckers consume insects from the wood and, in the autumn, pinecones. They could steal other birds' eggs and chicks when they are breeding.
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