Work is continuing on the new Rathcormac Nature Reserve being developed by Rathcormac Game and Wildlife Club at Corrin. Now plans are being made to reintroduce the endangered native grey partridge to the reserve as part of a bid to boost numbers of this red-listed bird. 70 juveniles were released on the reserve last autumn and stayed there for a few months before leaving the area. A covey of about 10 made their home in Mellinfontstown, Bartlemy for the winter and we will be hoping for sightings of adults with chicks in this area during the summer. We exchanged birds with another programme to mix the breeding and kept 5 breeding pairs on site ready for the 2016 breeding season. The excess eggs from these will be hatched under bantams.
Our club has two other members breeding Grey partridge also in Rathcormac and Castlelyons so that we will get a good spread of birds all over the area when their offspring are released in the summer and autumn of 2016.
The reserve is adjacent to the Corrin walk and is located on an elevated site in a beautiful scenic area, looking out over the countryside. Conservation work is a key part of the project, and local donations are being sought to ensure that the reserve opens to the public as soon as possible.