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Showing posts with label Celtic Nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Celtic Nature. Show all posts

Celtic Nature: Puffins

 

Puffins are birds that are part penguin and part parrot. They are found around the Celtic world and are a popular sight. Many call them “clowns” or “clown birds.” These birds are characterized by their black and white color and their colorful bill, which glows under UV light (discovered in 2019). 

Celtic Nature: Whitelee Windfarm

Whitelee Windfarm by Josie Campbell, CC BY-SA 2.0 
<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Wind power has been on the rise around the world. Turbines harness the power of the wind and convert it into electricity to be used to power houses and buildings. This helps protect the environment. The Celtic world, Scotland in particular, has a role in wind power.

Celtic Nature: Connemara National Park

Karie Kuiper, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Connemara National Park is located in Co. Galway, Ireland. The park opened in 1980 and has since been a home for animals. It is also filled with plant life, from heather and gorse to sedge, wild herbs, and flowers.

Connemara National Park is home to 2000 hectares of mountains, bogs, heaths, grasslands, and woodlands. Steps are being taken to preserve all wildlife within the park. There are a variety of walking trails for visitors to utilize as a part of their visit to the park.

Celtic Nature: Connemara Ponies

Connemara Ponies. Photo by 

Connemara ponies are a revered breed in Ireland and around the world. They have become a symbol of resilience and sturdiness, able to withstand even the harshest conditions. There is even a new Connemara Pony Heritage Centre in Connemara National Park.

Celtic Nature: Red Bartsia Bees


Red Bartsia bees, Melitta tricincta, are bees that collect pollen from Red Bartsia flowers. They are a dull brown color and have narrow white bands on their abdomen. The bees are an average of 10 mm in size. They live in singular nests in soil, but these are rarely seen.

Celtic Nature: Ash Trees

Maoileann, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Ash trees, or Fraxinus excelsior, are native to Ireland and are an essential aspect of Ireland’s biodiversity and culture. They are celebrated in poetry and folklore and used in sporting equipment. However, a recent disease has threatened the lives of Irish ash trees, but there are initiatives to help preserve the future of the species.

Celtic Nature: Shamrocks

Shamrocks are a common symbol of Ireland and are closely associated with St. Patrick. The word “shamrock” comes from the Irish word “seamair óg,” which means “young clover.”  The shamrock has been Ireland’s national flower for a while, and it is no surprise since it has a rich history in the nation. These plants are known around the world, but there are things about them that are not as well known.

Celtic Nature: Oak Trees

Oak tree
Oak tree. Photo by Alexander Kovalev: https://www.pexels.com/photo/green-tree-2871478/

Oak trees are found throughout the world, mostly in the northern hemisphere. Nations revere the tree, which is known as the “king of the forest.” The Celtic world, which is known for its connection to nature, has a particular relationship and fondness for the tree.

Celtic Nature: John Muir

John Muir was a Scottish-American naturalist. He is most known for being the creator of the National Parks system. Muir was born in Dunbar, Scotland in 1838 to Daniel and Ann Gilrye Muir. He was his parents’ third child and first boy. His mother and grandfather helped foster a love of nature, but his father was stern.

Muri was inspired by nature from a young age. He recorded thoughts and pictures in a notebook to track his findings and learnings. He enjoyed spending time exploring a castle near his childhood home. At a young age, he moved from the beautiful nature of Scotland that he knew and loved to California.

Celtic Nature: The Wren

Photo by Jack Bulmer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-a-brown-carolina-wren-10322083/

Wrens are small, brown birds that are native to Ireland. They tend to live in oak trees and are the only birds who sing in the winter. Wrens are one of the most common birds to see around Ireland and live in a variety of landscapes. They are known for their round bodies, cocked tail, and red-brown body with a paler underbody.

The wren is known as the “King of the Birds.” They are native to Ireland and are known to be the wisest birds, even outsmarting the eagle. This is how they got their nickname in Ireland. Their name in Irish is “dreoilín”, which means trickster.