Cuan (male, tag no. 159143)

This harrier was tagged on the 11th of July when he was around 28-30 days old at a traditional heather moorland site in the Knockmeldowns in north Co. Waterford, which is now partly afforested. One of a healthy sized brood of 4 in 2015 the nest was located 0.4km away in deep heather whereas this year the pair ‘moved’ to a site young first rotation forestry. However, much like 2015 the ground layer was dense lush knee-high heather and gorse, just the kind of habitat a harrier likely favours for nest protection but potential predators like foxes (and human nest finders!) have trouble negotiating. Last year the pair fledged just a single chick but this year has been a productive year at this site (assuming the same male and female returned to breed). 

 

The nest was located in May when the female was seen returning to the nest after a food pass and feeding for some minutes on ground away from the nest. Hatching was confirmed in mid-June and the male continued to provision the female until the chicks were old enough to thermoregulate (control their own body heat) and could be left for gradually more extended periods while both parents hunt for food, predominately meadow pipit and skylark at this site. As with all our sites, nests were observed from remote vantage points and nest sites were not visited until tagging time when chicks are near fledging.

The name Cuan comes from the old Celtic name for Waterford ‘Cuan na Gréine’ or Harbour of the Sun’. Here’s hoping the beautiful south-east continues to be a safe harbour for Cuan and other harriers for years to come! Future posts will follow his movements as he disperses away from his natal site in the Knockmeldowns.