The Kingdom of Ireland

Peatlands are important habitats, particularly for birds. Many bird species use them for nesting and feeding. There are over 300 different species of birds found within Irish peatlands. Some of the most common include the curlew, lapwing, plover, snipe, woodcock, wren and warbler. Cork forests provide habitat for over 350 species of plants and animals, including many rare and endangered species. Cork forests are home to over 200 species of trees, shrubs and herbs. This includes some of the oldest living oak trees in Ireland. Cork forests also support a wide variety of fungi, lichens and mosses. Ireland has the largest area of natural woodland in Europe. About 30% of Ireland’s total land mass is covered by tree plantations. However, much of this is planted pine rather than native broadleaf species. Native broadleaf species are generally slower growing and less suitable for timber production. Cork forests are one of the few remaining large tracts of native broadleaf woodland in Ireland. There are four main types of cork forest: valley bottoms; lowland river valleys; mountain slopes; and coastal dunes. Each type provides unique ecological benefits. For example, valley bottom cork forests contain a mix of mature trees and young saplings. Young trees are able to take advantage of nutrients carried downslope by meltwater streams. Mountain slope cork forests consist mainly of old, tall trees. These trees benefit from the protection afforded by steep terrain. Coastal dune cork forests are dominated by Mediterranean scrub species. The dunes themselves protect the trees from strong winds and salt spray.crow - Corvus cornix

The hooded crow is a medium-sized bird of prey native to Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. It is one of the most widespread corvid species, found across much of temperate Asia and North America. In some areas it is considered a pest due to its tendency to raid crops and gardens. In Ireland, there are several different subspecies of hooded crow. These include the black-hooded crow, red-necked crow, and white-throated crow.

The red-necked crow is a small crow with a long tail and a short neck. It is often mistaken for the American crow because of its similar appearance. Red-necked crows live in groups called colonies. A colony consists of many nests built high up in trees. Each nest contains three eggs. The parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks. When the young birds reach adulthood, they move away from the colony.

This is another small crow with a long bill. White-throated crows live in pairs, and build nests in tree cavities. Like the red-necked crow and the rook, the white-throated crow feeds mainly on insects.is famous for its beautiful landscape and seascapes. Fastnet Rock is the south westernmost point of Ireland. Most of Cork's coastline consists of sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. Sea temperature affects how much water is around the coast. During winter months, there is less sea ice. In summer, the ocean heats up faster than land temperatures. This causes warm currents to move along the Irish coast. These currents are called Gulf Streams. They bring warmer water from the North Atlantic Ocean towards the west coast of Ireland. As a result, the waters off Cork are usually warmer than those further east.name "Cork" derives from the Old Norse word corcaig, meaning island or rock. The English form of the name is derived from the city's location on the River Lee, which flows into Lough Neagh, a large lake located near Belfast. The river itself takes its name from the Irish language, An Chorróg, meaning "the red stream".