Conservation Volunteers Galway

01/09/2026

Planned location of the Sand Martin Wall, on the shoreline of Lough Atalia

31/08/2026

Design for Sand Martin nest boxes nearly complete

24/08/2026

A big thank you to Ian O'Connor and David McNicholas, whose talks yesterday as part of Heritage Week were well received. Ian's talk included that a Common Tern chick ringed in Galway had been spotted in Gambia after a nearly 5,000 km migration journey. Our thanks to GRETB for the use of their Outdoor Education Centre for this event

23/08/2026

In 2024, the rare Lady's Tresses Orchids were first observed flowering in the now-mow area at Rinville Park. This year they did not flower, not even one of them. Somehow, collectively, they decided to take break or maybe the very dry Summer didn't work for them. Anyone who can shed light on this phenomenon please do so.

22/08/2026

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2026/08/22/first-common-tern-chicks-return-to-mayo-lake-after-86-year-absence/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwdGRzaAT2zoVjbGNrBPbOYXBkb2YFZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEeEnRiakEBy4IMwqqH_tCumDpRKDLLzEGxvz9rfIeF6C1lDvL56sEZ6NoiG7k_aem_nr3XhCXAoZYHy1iaZR_Rdw =1787394706

MAYO has waited 75 years for the return of Sam Maguire and Lough Carra has waited over 86 years to see the return of common terns fledging chicks on the lake.

17/08/2026

Reminder - at 7pm this Sunday evening 23rd August.https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/galway-to-the-gambia-common-terns-in-lough-atalia?fbclid=IwdGRzaATwJ2pjbGNrBPAnRHBkb2YBZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEee8aiQeCN8GsOgS4IgBWDbBXOLF6WobACNh5XPiFCBq3GXDVbPWhV9lEZVEQ_aem_PqAoIYEqaRMtjioxHsZYkw

Meeting at - Outdoor Education and Recreation Facility - Lakeshore Drive, Renmore, Galway. Speakers: Dr Ian O’Connor (ATU), Peter Butler (Conservation Voluntee...

16/08/2026

An important issue this.

13/08/2026

Final numbers for 2026. 75 eggs laid in 35 nests. 65 eggs hatched. 60 chicks took to the air. In a few years hopefully most of these chicks will be nesting on the rafts. There's enough nesting room on the three rafts likely for up to 60 pairs. 😀

11/08/2026

10/08/2026

And then there were none. The last two chicks are airborne. About 60 Common Tern chicks fledged this year. No sign of Avian Influenza this year which was great. The rafts have a nesting capacity for 50+ pairs which is the project goal, up from about 20 pairs five years ago.