Two new exciting projects –
Monitoring woodlands for grey and red squirrels and pine martins. This is in collaboration with Queens University Belfast and is part of a Northern Ireland wide study. Recent findings have shown that in areas where pine martin numbers increase, grey squirrel numbers decrease, and red squirrel numbers increase. This study aims to map pine martin, grey squirrel and red squirrel populations and trends in Northern Ireland via camera traps.
So far we have seen lots of little birds, grey squirrels, and a sparrowhawk. No reds or pine martins here, which I kind of expected, but there are some in other parts of Northern Ireland which you can see here – https://www.facebook.com/QuercusQUB
Also starting work on a really interesting biodiversity regeneration project at the Carrickfergus marina. This will include installing 10 guillemot nesting boxes along the pier – we had three breeding pairs last year and are hoping this will encourage more – building planters which will be attached along the pier and be filled with salt tolerant climbing plants, and installing camera traps which will be used to promote the biodiversity in the area – there is great wildlife such as cormorants, seals and sea otters which not many people know about!
