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(Image: Andrew Kelly)
THE IRISH WILDLIFE Trust (IWT) is calling on all wildlife enthusiasts to help with its smooth newt survey for 2013. The organisation is asking people to check their local ponds for the little critters and report back.
The smooth newt is one of Ireland’s few native amphibian species and this survey aims to increase our knowledge of the distribution of the species, but also make Irish people more familiar with the ‘water dragon’. IWT said this is a great opportunity for people to “get involved in an important monitoring scheme and to get to learn about these fascinating animals and their ecology”.
This year the IWT will be focussng its efforts in counties where there currently are few or no records, including counties Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway, Meath, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Offaly and Kerry. Training days will be taking place in these counties during March or early April with dates and venues to be confirmed shortly.
If you would like to attend a training day, you must register and members of the trust can attend the workshop for free. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.
The IWT said it also welcome records of newts from anywhere in Ireland so if you have seen a newt or know of a pond where they breed the trust would like to know.
To register as a surveyor in one of the targeted counties or for more information contact Seán Meehan at newts@iwt.ie or on 087 9207583, or the IWT website.
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This will be very hard to see because my newt is very small…………….
Its still dark outside Michelle.. go back to bed for another hour or so and we’ll call ya when the breakfast is ready and we got the newt search party all together! :-)
OMG!! just heard one on the radio singing “Physical” called Olivia NEWTon John !!!
♡♡Where art thou…♡♡
Had one for a pet a few years ago. I called him “Tiny” because he was my-newt!
I’ve a pet one, I call him Newt Gingrich
i’ve seen newt!!!
A decent photo may of helped the article.
If u see a new…..then u found it :)
*may have
Known in the country as man keepers!!Misconceived newts were able to jump down a man’s throat and possess him
I’d like to add that there it would be great if people could get involved in the Irish Peatland Conservation Survey(IPCC) of frogs in Ireland. If you see one at any stage of its lifecycle you could fill out a survey form or send a picture to the IPCC. Further info. can be found at http://www.ipcc.ie/join-the-frog-survey-ireland-2013-frog-spawn-spotted/
Pretty sure this newt will be found beside some bypass somewhere that is under construction or about to be built stopping everything for a couple of years while research is carried out on their habitat.
I’ve seen the newt driving around town in his ute calling everyone a beaut
Y’all know me. Know how I earn a livin’. I’ll catch this newt for you, but it ain’t gonna be easy. Bad Newt! Not like going down to the pond and chasing bluegills and tommycods. This Newt, swallow ya whole. Little shakin’, little tenderizin’, down you go. And we gotta do it quick, that’ll bring back the tourists, that’ll put all your businesses on a payin’ basis. But it’s not gonna be pleasant! I value my neck a lot more than three thousand bucks, chief. I’ll find him for three, but I’ll catch him, and kill him, for ten. But you’ve gotta make up your minds. If you want to stay alive, then ante up. If you want to play it cheap, be on welfare the whole winter. I don’t want no volunteers, I don’t want no mates, there’s too many captains on this island. Ten thousand Euros for me by myself. For that you get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing..
tl:dr..
The best place to view pond life in this country is in Kildare Street!
It’s my newt…
A witch turned me into one…But I got better!
Check the dail…… Heard there’s a few in there disguised as TD’s !!
Grow up, serious survey goin on, protected species +endangered & better tan some of above pond life
Yeah he’s been hanging around with Angela Merkel for the last few months
They are all gone. They’ll Eft.
D
Yes last year in the pond next door!
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