There is a great variety of wildlife to be seen in and around Clane and we hope these pages give you some sense of the plants and animals that can be seen in this part of North Kildare.
Clane Tidy Towns are excited to be kicking off a Nest Box Scheme in 2012 in association with the Kildare branch of Birdwatch Ireland. Please see our nest box design recommendations if you would like to construct a nest box yourself.
Plants and Insects of Clane Liffeyside Nature Park
Our Clane Liffeyside Nature Park now boasts two custom made signs introducing the local wildlife, and based on this we are delighted to make two high resolution wildlife posters available. They introduce the Plants, Insects, Animals and Birds that can be seen in and around the Liffeyside Nature Park. Feel free to download them, print them out and hang them up: Liffeyside Nature Park high-resolution Posters (PDF).
We have also published some more detailed information on local wildlife, please see the growing list of pages under the “Wild About Clane” menu.
Animals and Birds of Clane Liffeyside Nature Park
For more comprehensive information on Irish wildlife check out websites such as:
- National Parks and Wildlife Service: http://www.npws.ie/
- Irish Biodiversity: http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/
- Irish Birds
- Birdwatch Ireland: http://www.birdwatchireland.ie
- Birdwatch Ireland Kildare Branch: http://www.birdwatchkildare.com
- Bird Identifier wizard (RSPB): http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdidentifier (includes some birds not found in Ireland)
- Species information (RSPB): http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/a (includes birds not found in Ireland)
- Bats: www.batconservationireland.org
- Wildflowers: http://www.wildflowersofireland.net
- Moths: http://www.moths.ie and http://www.mothsireland.com
- Whales and dolphins: http://www.iwdg.ie/
Have you spotted some wildlife locally? Why not make your sighting count! Please consider recording the information on the following websites and help researchers trying to understand and protect our wildlife for future generations.
- All plants and animal, including road casualties: http://www.biology.ie/
- Squirrels and Pine Martens: http://www.woodlandmammals.com
- Birdwatch Ireland Garden Bird Survey
- Birdwatch Ireland/BTO Bird Atlas: http://www.bto.org/birdatlas
- Bats: http://www.batconservationireland.org/php/monitoring.php
- Whales and Dolphin sightings and strandings: http://www.iwdg.ie
Finally, for some updates regarding wildlife in Clane check out the articles below:
- Wild About Clane - Nest Box Scheme!
Have you some spare wood and a jar of screws at the back of the shed? Clane Tidy Towns have hatched a plan for a nestbox scheme in Clane, and would be delighted if you would participate!
- Liffeyside Nature Park - a wonderful new amenity for Clane
Clane Community Council and its Tidy Towns Sub-Committee marked International Biodiversity Day, Sunday 22nd May, in style with the official opening of its Liffeyside Nature Park and the unveiling of its two new “Wild About Clane” information panels...
- Celebrating Biodiversity Day in style at Clane Liffeyside Park
Sunday May 22nd is International Biodiversity Day and this year Clane will be celebrating it in style. Come along to Clane Liffeyside Park from 6:30 pm for the grand opening of the park, guided nature walks, unveiling of our brand new wildlife signs and a bat walk! Read on to find out more...
- Calling all ... nesting birds?
Have you noticed any bird nests this year? It is the last year of the enormous Bird Atlas project and there are still some gaps in the data for around Clane. Read on to see the species that are not yet confirmed breeding here - including Magpies! - maybe you can help fill some of the gaps...
- Close encounters - with a lobster?
During the National Spring Clean on April 2nd some volunteers were cleaning up along the banks of the Liffey. When pulling out some rubbish they came across perhaps one of the most unusal animals living in Clane...
- Local Forests - and Lakes...
You have probably heard of Donadea Forest Park, but did you know there is a lovely quiet lake nearby too? Ballynafagh lake is just north of Prosperous. Find out more under "Place to Explore" - and why not visit them some day soon?
- Are you going batty this Halloween?
The K Club in Straffan is hosting a Halloween bat talk and walk this Friday October 29th for young and old alike to find out more about these mysterious nocturnal animals.
- Finches...
Some of the most colourful birds that can be seen around Clane are the finches, and many of them are attracted to garden bird feeders in the winter...
- Wild About Clane Photo Competition
In 2009 Clane Tidy Towns ran a "Wild About Clane" photo competition. The independent judges have met and after considerable deliberations the results are in…Clane Tidy Towns are delighted to announce that the winners of the recent photo competition...
- Birds of Prey...
You don’t have to go very far to see amazing birds of prey in Ireland: there are three species of raptors that can regularly be seen in and around our town...
- Thrushes...
Did you know several species of thrush fly into Clane to enjoy our wonderfully mild...winters?
- Swallow-like birds...
There are four swallow-like birds that migrate to Ireland for the summer, and all four can be seen in and around Clane...
