Welcome to 2019's Creature Calendar - Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
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Welcome
to 2019’s
Creature
Calendar
This can be used as a workbook or downloaded Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is
as a poster for schools and community groups committed to helping conserve natural
to use to help save our declining species. habitats and species, and raising awareness of
biodiversity by hosting events and developing
All the animals listed here are red or amber partnerships through the Local Biodiversity
priority species in Northern Ireland due to their Action Plan (LBAP).
declining populations.
Different animals have different levels of
protection and penalties vary. 17 species are
given protection by law including bats, otters, You can find out more at
dolphins, whales, newts, lizards and butterflies. www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/biodiversity
Song Thrush
Numbers of these little birds have declined by up to 70%.
This is most likely down to the removal of hedgerows and
woodland which is where they like to feed and nest.
Song thrushes live up to their name by singing for
much of the year. You may hear the first song in early
November but singing really kicks off in the New Year.
Listen out for them!
Song thrushes are one of the few native birds to eat
snails – important for all the gardeners out there!
You can help these bird in the harsh winter weather
by leaving out fat balls, or homemade bird cakes
made with lard and packed with seeds, fruit or dried
mealworms. Make sure your garden has a source of
unfrozen water for drinking and bathing.
Provide shelter for birds to roost in by installing
next boxes, planting dense hedges such as privet or
hawthorn, or allowing ivy or holly to grow.
Get involved in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch between
26 and 28 January. Your results can help experts understand
how bird populations are doing in Northern Ireland.
Check out: www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
Hedgehog
Hedgehogs will be coming out of hibernation
soon! Hedgehogs usually hibernate from
November to March.
Hedgehogs eat mainly beetles, caterpillars,
earthworms and slugs.
Did you know there are approximately
5-7000 spines on an average adult
hedgehog?
Did you know baby hedgehogs are
called hoglets.
Hedgehogs travel around one mile every
night through our parks and gardens to
find enough food, and a mate. If you have
an enclosed garden you might be getting
in the way of their plans. You can help by
creating a hedgehog hole in your garden
fence to create one big hedgehog highway!
Please garden organically, pesticides such
as slug pellets can poison hedgehogs.
For more information visit:
www.hedgehogstreet.org
Dolphin
Bottlenose dolphins are regularly seen in the coastal
waters of Northern Ireland at all times of the year,
usually in groups, or pods, of 5-30. They are
very friendly and inquisitive towards people,
bottlenose dolphins often bow-ride, or ride in
the waves created by boats.
The main threats to dolphins are
entanglement and drowning in fishing
equipment, reduction in fish numbers due to
commercial fishing and pollution.
You can help by making sure your plastic
waste doesn’t end up in our sea. Always
check if you can recycle any waste and try
and buy sustainable products where you can.
In Mid and East Antrim drive along the
breath-taking Coast Road and look out to
sea. Dolphin species and harbour porpoises
are often sighted at Whitehead, Islandmagee,
Larne, Ballygally, Glenarm, and Carnlough.
You can report your own sightings to the Irish
Whale and Dolphin Group at: www.iwdg.ie
Barn Owl
The barn owl is one of Northern Ireland’s most
iconic species, but unfortunately one of the most
endangered with less than 50 breeding pairs
estimated to be left in Northern Ireland.
One of the reasons is lack of suitable nesting
sites. So, with the help of local schools
we have installed three custom built barn
owl boxes across the Borough for these
beautiful birds, and continue to monitor
them.
Did you know barn owls often swallow
their food whole and bits of fur and bone
are then coughed up as an owl pellet?
Barn owls don’t actually hoot, they screech!
If you see a barn owl please report it, this
will add to valuable Northern Ireland wide
research.
For more information visit:
www.ulsterwildlife.org/barnowl
Bees
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is one of eight
local authorities involved in the ‘Bee-licious’ project,
which is funded by Heritage Lottery Funding.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is working to
raise awareness of bees and improve their habitat.
Did you know there are hundreds of bees
in Northern Ireland including bumblebees,
honeybees and solitary bees?
Have you seen the bee-licious wildflower
meadows across the Borough? Our meadows
are sown with native wildflower seed mix
including corn poppy, ox-eye daisy and field
scabious, which are all brilliant for bees.
Did you know pollinators are essential for the
production of food and contribute an estimated
£1.8bn to the UK’s farming economy every year?
You can help bees in your own garden by reducing
or eliminating pesticide use, letting a few areas go
wild, and by planting pollinator friendly plants.
A list is available at www.rhs.org.ukCommon Swift
These migrant birds return from their wintering
grounds in Africa to the same spot in Northern
Ireland each year to breed.
Swifts nest in holes - old buildings, in gaps under
roof tiles and eaves, or in specially designed
swift boxes - so you’ll never see them building
a nest outside.
The swift is a superb flier. They even sleep on
the wing! The best time to look for swifts is
dusk or dawn in June and July.
Did you know swifts have tiny feet and legs
and can hardly walk?
We completed a swift survey across the
Borough and found them at many locations
including Carnlough, Glenarm, Larne,
Whitehead, Ballymena, Cullybackey, Ahoghill,
Portglenone and Kells
– great news!
You can report any swift sightings at:
www.rspb.org.uk/swiftButterfly
Northern Ireland is home to around 25 species of butterfly,
with almost half of these being priority species.
Butterfly Conservation NI have recommended looking
out for large heath, speckled wood and marsh fritillary.
Your garden plants, no matter how small, can help
butterflies by offering supplies of nectar. Butterflies
particularly love buddleia, lavender, marjoram and
verbena – why not plant some in your garden or in
pots for your window?
You can also help butterflies by using peat-free
compost and not using insecticides and pesticides
- they kill butterflies as well as ladybirds, beetles
and spiders.
Get involved in the Big Butterfly Count this year
from 19 July to 11 August. Report your sightings
here: www.bigbutterflycount.org
Great places to go on a butterfly hunt in the
borough include Diamond Jubilee Wood Whitehead
and Carnfunnock Country Park. Bring a picnic and
make a day of it! Share your pics on social media using
#MEAdventuresFind the 2 identical butterflies
Bat
Daubenton’s bat, is also known as a ‘water bat’. They
live in wooded areas close to lakes and rivers. They
feed off insects, like midges, that they forage at dusk
by skimming the surface like a small hovercraft.
There are over 1,300 types of bats, baby bats
are called pups and they are the only true flying
mammal.
Did you know bats are not blind? They can see
perfectly well!
International Bat Night occurs on the last
Saturday in August each year. It’s a great
opportunity to get out and look for these river
loving bats. See if you can spot them at Ecos
Nature Park, Galgorm Wood or Portglenone
Marina and Forest.
Bats and their roosts are protected by law in
the UK and Ireland. This means it is a crime for
someone to hurt or kill a bat, or to destroy their
roost.
For more information you can visit The Northern
Ireland Bat Group: www.bats-ni.org.ukRed squirrel
Red squirrels eat a variety of seeds, nuts, funghi, bark, buds
and berries
Red squirrels do not hibernate; in very cold weather they
will stay in their nests for a day or two, but they cannot
survive for longer periods without food.
The red squirrel is believed to have been present
in Ireland since the end of the last Ice Age but
unfortunately they are currently in decline.
Did you know grey squirrels are a major threat to the
survival of the red squirrel population?
Greys are larger than reds and can out-compete them
for food, greys also carry a viral disease (Parapox virus)
which can be fatal to reds.
Baby squirrels are called kittens. North-east Antrim has
the largest number of red squirrel only areas in Northern
Ireland.
Why not visit Straidkilly Nature Reserve in Glenarm and see
what you can spot? This small nature reserve, perched above
Glenarm Village, is a great place to see red squirrels feasting on
nuts in the hazel woodland. You can also enjoy a short circular
trail, picnic area and stunning views of the North Antrim Coast.Moth
Northern Ireland is home to around 1000 species of moth,
with almost half of these being priority species.
There are many myths about moths. Did you know some
moths actually only fly during the day, including the shiny
black and red six-spot burnet moth and the beautiful
hummingbird hawk moth?
Did you know most moths do not eat clothes?
Or that not all moths are dull, some are even more
colourful than butterflies.
Moth populations decreasing is not just bad news for
the insects themselves, but also affects other wildlife.
Moths and their caterpillars are important food for
many other species including amphibians, small
mammals, bats and many bird species such as robin,
wren and blackbird.
Gardens are important places for moths, and there
could be over a hundred species in just an ordinary
urban back garden! A range of night scented flowers such
as honeysuckle, jasmine and evening primrose, can attract
more moths to your garden.
You can report sightings here: www.mothnight.infoFind the word moth L B A M R A U A O E A W A Y A B A P Q A Z H W Q A F T E X M A A A D L H R A O A C X Y R T A O T Y D A A U A A A H A A F C G Y A O A I A A O A M M A A Q S D A O H
Otter
Otters were once widespread throughout the UK but since
the 1960s they have declined, mainly due to increased
levels of pollution in our rivers and a reduction in fish
numbers. Northern Ireland has a healthy population of
otters at present, but they are still a priority species and
protected by law.
Otters are good indicators of water quality as they
need clean, unpolluted water with a large and varied
supply of food. Baby otters, called pups or kittens,
are usually born during the summer months in an
underground den and stay with their mothers for
about a year.
Otters can live for up to 10 years and feed mainly on
fish, frogs, crayfish and sometimes small birds.
Otters are shy, solitary animals. Dawn and dusk are
good times to spot them. It is also when other wildlife
is most active, and their behaviour may give away an
otter’s presence. A flock of ducks suddenly swimming
one way, glancing over their shoulders, could be a sign
of an otter nearby. A tell-tale trail of bubbles might mean
the otter has seen you first!
Otters can be been spotted along most rivers including
the River Braid and Glenarm River.Curlew
The curlew is a large wading bird, well known for
its very long legs and long down-curved bill. The
eerie call and bubbling song was once a familiar
sound of the open countryside and inspired
many poets.
The species has declined over the last twenty
years. In Northern Ireland we have lost more
than 80% of the curlew population since
1987 due to loss of habitat. Curlews nest on
the ground, so they are also vulnerable to
predators.
One of the last remaining strongholds for
these birds is the Glenwherry area of Antrim,
where RSPB’s Greenmount Hill Farm have
been working with local farmers to reverse
this.
There are now approximately 45 breeding
pairs recorded annually there.
Look out for curlews in coastal areas in winter
and wetland areas in summer. You can report any
sightings to the RSPB.For more information
For more information on the wonderful wildlife
in the Borough you can download the
Local Biodiversity Action Plan below.
www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/biodiversity
T: 028 9335 8231
E: biodiversity@midandeastantrim.gov.ukYou can also read
