Construction starts on new Sand Martin wall in Mayo park

KILTIMAGH is hoping to welcome some feathered visitors this year.

Their new accommodation is being built in Emigrant Park, in the heart of the town.

This week, Emigrant Park welcomed Jimmy Connor, who is constructing a Sand Martin wall in the park.

Jimmy has previously built a wall in Lough Carra and the hope is that the park will be welcoming Sand Martins to Kiltimagh for their breeding season in coming months.

The project is being funded by Mayo County Council's Climate Action Fund.

Last August a Sand Martin nesting wall was launched at Clogher Bog.

Clogher Environmental Group, with support from the council, constructed a nesting wall with 70 nesting holes, the first of its kind in Connaught.

Sand Martins are related to swallows and like swallows, they migrate here from sub-Saharan Africa to breed. In recent times their numbers have depleted, and they are now on the IUCN Amber List of Birds of Conservation Concern.

The Sand Martin colony on Clogher Bog has dwindled to three nesting pairs, partly due to a lack of suitable habitat. Not wishing to lose these birds altogether, the nesting wall project was initiated.

Follow the story and all that's happening at Emigrant Park - Kiltimagh: https://www.facebook.com/KAPinhand.