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David McCormick of Tralee Bay Wetlands in front of the little island where a swans nest was destroyed over last weekend. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
RISING waters have destroyed the swans nest along with six eggs contained in it at Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre.
The nest is located on an tiny island near the entrance to the Wetlands on the town side and has been used by a pair of swans even before the centre opened in 2012.
A combination of heavy rainfall and high tides over the weekend caused the nest to wash away.
The swans, which have been breeding on the site since before the centre was even built, constructed their nest where they always have, on the small island near the old stone bridge near the pedestrian entrance to the grounds.
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Unfortunately, this part of the Wetlands is exposed to the River Lee, which was already running at a very high level due to the spring tide and was additionally swollen with the huge amount of rain that fell.
David McCormick, ecologist at the centre said: “This is a very unfortunate occurrence that illustrates that the unprecedented weather that we have been receiving is not just causing hardship and loss to humans, but also to many of our treasured wildlife. Fortunately for this pair of swans, it is still early enough in the year that they can find another site and rebuild their nest. But I am sure that there are many waterfowl pairs in the area that have suffered similarly over the weekend.”
