Nature’sWeb Issue No. 47 Autumn 2017 INSIDE THIS ISSUE... Editor’s Page FOX FAMILY The Red Fox Fuchsia Squirrel Money Box Colour In: Family Time All in a Day’s Work: Tracey Wood Wolfe — Wild Atlantic Family The Shannon Navigation Black John— the Bogus Pirate The Gulf Stream The World Around Us Fun Page Learn More Autumn Wordsearch Nature’s Noticeboard Image courtesy of Robbie Murphy © 2017 Sherkin Island Marine Station & its licensors. All rights reserved. www.naturesweb.ie 1 Editor’s Page Welcome to the By Jupiter, it’s Goldilocks! Autumn Edition of Nature’s Web! n July, we had a “celestial” visitor on Sherkin I Island, when space expert Leo Enright paid us a visit during a “Summer of Space” tour. He gave a really exciting talk about our solar system, the Dear Reader, highlight being images of Jupiter’s “Great Red Spot”, which is as wide as three Earths. The talk Welcome everyone to the was really fascinating and Leo was so enthusiastic it Autumn 2017 issue of made us all even more interested in the night sky. Nature’s Web. In this While Jupiter was the highlight, I also loved issue we meet Tracey hearing about the “Goldilocks Zone”. The Wood Wolfe who writes a “Goldilocks Zone” is a part of space where Leo Enright giving the “Summer of Space” talk at The Islander’s Rest on Sherkin Island, Co. Cork. blog called “Wild Atlantic conditions are such that life could be supported. It Family”. She explains how is named after the fairy tale “Goldilocks and the going out and about Three Bears” and refers to the fact that conditions discovering new places are not “too hot” nor “too cold” but “just right” – along the Wild Atlantic just like the porridge! Way has been a great way The “Summer of Space” tour was made possible for her and her family to by CIT’s Blackrock Castle Observatory and Cork spend time together. We County Library, with help from the Cork County look at the Red Fox, an Council. During the talk, Leo encouraged us all to animal that is common and visit our local library and check out the many Murphy Robbie of courtesy Images widespread throughout exciting books on space! The International Space Station passing over the Franciscan Abbey on Sherkin Island, Co. Cork. Ireland and the rest of AS GAEILGE! We are delighted to have teamed up with An Gúm, who are translating Nature’s Web the world. Check out into Irish. Issues are now available, as gaeilge, at: Ireland’s longest river and http://www.gaeilge.ie/maidir-le-foras-na-gaeilge/an-gum/lion-dulra/ learn more about the Shannon Navigation. Then see how to convert a tube into a squirrel money box! Check out nature news Pan Fried Fish from around the world on page 12 and enjoy a giggle with Minted with the jokes on page 13. Photo courtesy of www.bordbia.ie Pea Puree We would love to hear your views and comments and suggestions for future articles. Have a good read! What you need: What to do: Susan • 4 medium white fish • To make the pea puree, cook the peas according to the instructions Email: [email protected] fillets (whiting, on the pack. haddock, cod, john Web: www.naturesweb.ie • Place in a blender with the mint, butter and a little salt and pepper. dory, plaice etc) Editor: Susan Murphy Wickens Blend quickly until desired consistency. If the mixture is too thick add Layout and Design: • 200g frozen peas a little milk or cream. Set aside and keep warm. (If you do not have Susan Murphy Wickens • a blender you can mash the peas with a potato masher or fork and Handful fresh mint add in the chopped mint, for a more firmly textured mix) Photographs & Clipart: leaves – roughly Copyright © 2017 Sherkin • Dust the fish fillets with a little seasoned flour, and shake off any chopped Island Marine Station & its • excess. Heat the oil in a pan and add fish. Turn once during cooking. 1 teaspoon butter Cook in the pan or in the oven until golden brown. licensors. All rights reserved. Foreign Correspondent: • 2 tablespoons flour • Remove fish from the pan and place on top of the peas. Michael Ludwig • Salt and pepper Serves 4 © Sherkin Island Marine Brought to you by Bord Bia www.bordbia.ie Station 2017 © 2017 Sherkin Island Marine Station & its licensors. All rights reserved. www.naturesweb.ie Autumn 2017 22 Animal Life Home Sweet Home Foxes usually live in a The Red Fox shelter called an “earth” or a “den”. This could be a hole in the ground or in a bank. Sometimes earths are built between the roots of trees. They are often concealed by thick undergrowth and are hard to see. Fox Family A male fox is known as a dog, a female is a vixen and a young fox is a cub. Foxes are very good parents to their young. Cubs will Images courtesy of Robbie Murphy Murphy Robbie of courtesy Images stay with the family until adult Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Irish Name: Madra Rua size and will then leave their parents and find territories of he fox has a thick coat of reddish-brown fur, with white underparts their own. and a long, bushy tail. The fox looks very like a dog, this is because theyT belong to the Canidae Family, the same family as the dog. They have dog-like features but are typically smaller and thinner than the average dog. Foxes can be found in most parts of the world. In Ireland they are very common and widespread and can be found both in the country and in the city. In the countryside, they like to live near forests or in scrub or tall vegetation . In towns and cities they make homes in large gardens or derelict properties. They are usually nocturnal animals, preferring to venture out at night under the cover of darkness to search for food. It is still possible however to see foxes out and about during the day. Foxes are known to be sly and cunning. This has given rise to the phrase “as sly as a fox”! FACT FILE Length: 95-139 cm Colour: Reddish-brown, with white Food for Foxes underparts. Foxes are omnivorous—they eat most small Diet: Small animals, such as rats, animals like rats, mice, frogs and rabbits, but mice, frogs & rabbits, also fruits, also like fruit, berries, earthworms and insects. berries, earthworms & insects. Foxes will eat food scraps left out for them by humans, but it is not advised to feed foxes as they Habitat: need to be able to hunt for food themselves. Distribution: In the countryside & in Remember, though they may appear to be tame, they towns & cities throughout Ireland. are still wild animals. Unfortunately foxes also like Number of young: An average of 4- chickens and there is a constant battle to protect 6 cubs per litter & 1 litter per year. H chicken coops. The fox’s main predators are humans. © 2017 Sherkin Island Marine Station & its licensors. All rights reserved. www.naturesweb.ie Autumn 2017 33 Plant Life Fuchsia Scientific Name: Fuchsia magellanica Irish Name: Fiúise uchsia is a shrub used as hedging in the west and F southwest of Ireland. Many would consider it to be typically Irish but it was only introduced into Ireland in the mid-19th century, having originated in Chile and Argentina in South America. Though it is an alien species here, it is not considered to be an invasive species. In full bloom, Fuchsia’s crimson flowers provide beautiful colour in the hedgerows from July to October. A deciduous shrub, it loses its leaves in winter and comes very twiggy. However, once spring arrives, it starts to grow again and quickly comes into leaf. Fuchsia can grow in shade or full sun and in sheltered or exposed areas, as long as it is not too cold. It is this that allows it grow happier in coastal Murphy Robbie of courtesy Image locations and on The flower of the Fuchsia is very striking. In bud, it is Family rocky ground. It is like a little crimson lantern but when open four large also easy to grow pointed sepals fan out and the flower resembles a little There are many ballerina. The purple “underskirt” are the flower’s from cuttings. species of petals and the long “legs” are the stamens and stigma, which are used for reproduction. Fuchsia—some are also large shrubs but many not as hardy or big as the variety above. The flowers can be very ornamental, with very frilly petals and used as Colour summer bedding, in flower pots and in baskets. Fuchsia is also related to other Me! flowers, including Willowherb and Evening Primrose. Images courtesyofAudrey Murphy Cain/Sherkin IslandMarine Station FACT FILE Colour: Crimson and purple Height: 100-300 cm Habitat: Hedges and hedgerows Distribution: Mostly the west and southwest Ireland. Native of Chile and Argentina. © 2017 Sherkin Island Marine Station & its licensors. All rights reserved. www.naturesweb.ie Autumn 2017 44 Activity Squirrel Money Box utumn is when squirrels begin to collect nuts. They save A them so that they will have a food source during the long winter. You can make your own squirrel-themed money box to help you save some money for a rainy day. 1. Seal the lid onto the tube using tape. 2. Cut out various card shapes, using the templates on page 17. 3. Wrap tube with white card. 4. Glue the main body colour onto the tube.