The Mass yesterday told about Noah and the eight people in The Ark and of Gods promise
not to destroy the world by flood again.Comforting but the way the River Shannon has risen
even since Carey's photo on Saturday is little comfort for the Corncrake bird which visits
each summer and nests on the callows or meadowlands alongside the Shannon and Suck.
The summary report on the fate of the corncrake last year tells that only 20 singing male
Corncrakes were confirmed in 2002,a decrease of 63 % on 2001 figure of 54.
Last year there was a high flood and the figures for Baranagh Callow south of the bridge
(see Carey's photo) from 1993 to 2002 for singing male Corncrakes was
5, 3, 5, 4, 7, 5-6, 5, 3, 3, 0.
They winter near the Sahara and due to modern farming survive in the flooded callows
from Athlone to Portumna due to the late cutting of the haycrop.Last year they would
need an Ark to survive on the flooded callows.Hopo God remembers his promise
this year.