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09/11/2011
Jailhouse Lapwings Breeding 'Behind Bars'
They may be a bit more than a 'bird in a gilded cage' but a few dozen lapwings have been given the ultimate protection - prison.
They have made the perimeter grounds between the inner and outer fences of Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim their own territory so much so that it has now been declared an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) to protect the declining species.
About 30 breeding pairs of lapwings moved in a few years ago and started raising young with considerable success.
The lapwings ended up 'in prison' because it is flat with short grass, rich with other plant species and lots of insects for the growing chicks.
Yesterday, the NI Environment Minister Alex Attwood revealed that he had designated grassland at Maghaberry Prison as an ASSI and said this will help to protect the popular but increasingly scarce farmland bird.
In a statement, he explained that an ASSI is designated by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) in recognition of a site's conservation value.
A statement said: "The designation at Maghaberry Prison recognises the importance of the grasslands located within the prison which support one of Northern Ireland's most important populations of breeding Lapwing.
"This species has declined markedly in recent years but Maghaberry continues to act as home to around 30 pairs making this somewhat unusual site nationally important."
The SDLP Minister added: "Lapwings thrive at Maghaberry because of the presence of unimproved species-rich grassland within the prison perimeter.
"This grassland has not been influenced by re-seeding, fertilizer or drainage and is actively managed for the benefit of these popular birds. The rich sward provides both suitable nest sites and abundant insect prey for chicks. The perimeter fence also excludes mammal predators.
"We look forward to working positively with the Department of Justice, staff at HMP Maghaberry and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to maintain and enhance this important site," he said.
Although relatively common in winter when the population in Northern Ireland is supplemented by birds migrating from their breeding grounds elsewhere, the breeding Lapwing population here has declined dramatically over the past 40 years.
The Northern Ireland breeding population was estimated at about 1,700 pairs in 1999 but now probably numbers just a few hundred pairs.
(BMcC/GK)
They have made the perimeter grounds between the inner and outer fences of Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim their own territory so much so that it has now been declared an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) to protect the declining species.
About 30 breeding pairs of lapwings moved in a few years ago and started raising young with considerable success.
The lapwings ended up 'in prison' because it is flat with short grass, rich with other plant species and lots of insects for the growing chicks.
Yesterday, the NI Environment Minister Alex Attwood revealed that he had designated grassland at Maghaberry Prison as an ASSI and said this will help to protect the popular but increasingly scarce farmland bird.
In a statement, he explained that an ASSI is designated by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) in recognition of a site's conservation value.
A statement said: "The designation at Maghaberry Prison recognises the importance of the grasslands located within the prison which support one of Northern Ireland's most important populations of breeding Lapwing.
"This species has declined markedly in recent years but Maghaberry continues to act as home to around 30 pairs making this somewhat unusual site nationally important."
The SDLP Minister added: "Lapwings thrive at Maghaberry because of the presence of unimproved species-rich grassland within the prison perimeter.
"This grassland has not been influenced by re-seeding, fertilizer or drainage and is actively managed for the benefit of these popular birds. The rich sward provides both suitable nest sites and abundant insect prey for chicks. The perimeter fence also excludes mammal predators.
"We look forward to working positively with the Department of Justice, staff at HMP Maghaberry and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to maintain and enhance this important site," he said.
Although relatively common in winter when the population in Northern Ireland is supplemented by birds migrating from their breeding grounds elsewhere, the breeding Lapwing population here has declined dramatically over the past 40 years.
The Northern Ireland breeding population was estimated at about 1,700 pairs in 1999 but now probably numbers just a few hundred pairs.
(BMcC/GK)
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