Sinéad Craig of Inishowen Wildlife Club despatched on this image of a yellowhammer, seen throughout an outing on February seventeenth. Yellowhammers have been as soon as a widespread and acquainted farmland fowl. In autumn and winter they eat the seed heads of huge grasses and grains that happen among the many cereal stubble in arable fields. In summer time, when feeding chicks, yellowhammers will catch bugs; in any other case they’re sustained by grains and grass seeds. They have declined by an estimated 58 per cent over the previous 20 years as a consequence of altering farming practices and the ploughing-in of a lot of cereal stubbles shortly after harvesting. They at the moment are a red-listed species, categorised within the highest stage of conservation concern. This one was feeding on grain disregarded within the area as winter feeding for sheep.
Every spring this white materials seems on the highest of the trunks of those Australian tree ferns in Malahide Castle grounds. Can you inform me what it’s and what function it serves? Brian Cunningham, Co Dublin
This just isn’t a bizarre fungal progress however roof insulation materials that has been placed on high of the fern to guard the rising bud. Tree ferns are solely barely hardy in our local weather, so that they want safety within the chilly dry winters of Malahide. Relative to the southwest of Ireland, that’s, the place a scarcity of frost and the fixed rain retains the roots all alongside the trunk well-watered without having for synthetic safety. Life is more durable at Malahide, and so they want a serving to hand.
[ Eye on Nature: ‘Is there a hierarchy of wildlife?’ ]
This multicoloured bracket fungus is rising on an apple tree log within the again backyard. I used to be struck by the various vibrant colors of brown, cream and inexperienced. Can you establish it? Bobby Carty, Co Dublin
This is turkey tail (Trametes versicolor), an annual, polypore fungus forming skinny, leathery caps in crowded, overlapping formations on deciduous wooden, leading to a white rot. The species epithet “versicolor” aptly displays the assorted colors and zonations on the fruit our bodies. It is widespread and quite common, and has lengthy been utilized in Asian medication, within the bioremediation of contaminated soils and in producing eco-friendly insulation and packaging materials. An organization within the Netherlands, for instance, now produces coffins made totally of Trametes versicolor mycelium. Could you be tempted?
[ Why are hedgehogs on the move at all times of day and night? ]
I discovered this little skeleton on the shore in Valentia Island. It’s about 12cm lengthy and 8cm broad. Love to know what it’s? Anne Doyle, Co Wicklow
It appears to be like just like the cranium of a young seal – most likely that of a standard or harbour seal.
Frogs are spawning like mad within the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. Every puddle from Ticknock automotive park to the highest of Fairy Castle was heaving with frogspawn on February seventeenth. There should have been tons of of frogs. Archie and Hugo Lee, Dublin
Frogs hibernate throughout the chilly of winter, when their meals of flies, slugs and woodlice is not considerable or simply discovered. Once the temperature of the water rises, frogs are capable of spawn. They hurry to the identical ponds and puddles yearly and pair up. The females’ eggs are fertilised by the male sperm within the water, ensuing within the jelly-like frog spawn with the black fertilised eggs. Unless the waterbodies are a everlasting function, nonetheless, as an alternative of only a puddle, these won’t go on to type new frogs. Instead, the eggs and certainly the small tadpoles can be wolfed by opportunistic rats, foxes and hedgehogs in addition to herons and geese. Tadpoles could be cannibalistic, too. They will eat each other when meals is briefly provide, as in when the puddle is drying up. The outcome: only a few massive ultimate tadpoles for the visiting larger predators.
Please submit your nature question, statement, or photograph with a location, by way of irishtimes.com/eyeonnature
