YELLOWHAMMER WINTER FEEDING PROJECT

With the generous assistance of C J Wildbird Foods, the NIOC provide winter feeding from November through to March each year for Yellowhammers at two sites in Co Down.  The birds can usually be seen from the road and are located along Beatties Road and Spire Hill Road near Hillsborough.  First sightings will usually be the males perching on the telephone wires.

There was concern that the breeding populations at both sites would suffer the same fate as Yellowhammers throughout Northern Ireland, where the bird is now absent from two of the six counties.

  Since the launch of the programme in 1999 the population at both sites has grown from around 16 pairs to nearer 40 pairs.  Birds have been seen feeding throughout the winter of 1999 - 2000 and are there again 2000 – 2001.  Also present were good numbers of Linnet, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Skylark and a few Tree Sparrows. 

The success of the scheme will only be fully realised over the next few years as we monitor the breeding success of the winter populations.  We are however very grateful to CJW for their continued support which may save this beautiful bird for future generations in Northern Ireland.