Launch of Ireland’s farmland birds course

The majority of land use in Ireland is designated to agriculture. Our biodiversity and the future of farmland and intrinsically linked; Our biodiversity has been shaped by agricultural activity and our long-term agricultural sustainability depends on biodiversity. Farmland can support our bird populations by taking evidence based actions. Birds can also support the future of agriculture through:

  1. Indicator of a healthy farm: You can use birds as a proxy of the health of your farm. Farms with a good diversity of birds is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem, which sustainably provides the ecosystem services that farmers rely on.
  2. Pest control: Barn Owls are known as the ‘farmer’s friend’ for feeding on rodents. Starlings and Lapwing are known to feed on leather jacket, a damaging grass pest.

But the very step for anyone interested in making their farms more suitable for birds or using birds as indicator of a healthy farm, is to learn to identify birds.

 

 

Why should I take this course?

Welcome to our introductory course on bird identification in Irish farmland. This interactive course will equip you with the skills to identify various bird species through their distinctive features and vocalizations, enabling you to recognize them by both sight and sound. Upon successfully completing the course, you will be awarded a certificate as recognition of your learning achievement.

Have you taken actions for birds on your farm?

Farmers across the country are actively supporting bird populations by implementing various measures on their land. These efforts range from installing bird boxes to allowing hedgerows to flourish, providing abundant food and nesting opportunities.

The Festival of Farmland Biodiversity aims to acknowledge and celebrate these positive contributions made by farmers for the benefit of birds. By sharing a photo of a biodiversity action taken on their farm using the hashtag #farmlandbiodiversity, participants will have a chance to win a farm audit conducted by the National Biodiversity Data Centre, listing all the species discovered.