Ballygilgan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballygilgan |
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Barnacle Geese grazing at Ballygilgan seasonal pond
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| Location | County Sligo, Ireland |
| Area | 73 acres (0.30 km2) |
| Governing body | National Parks and Wildlife Service |
Ballygilgan, also called The Goose Field, is a special nature reserve in County Sligo, Ireland. It's about 73 acres big, which is like 55 football fields! This reserve is super important because it's where the largest group of barnacle geese on the Irish mainland live. The National Parks & Wildlife Service takes care of this amazing place.
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What Makes Ballygilgan Special?
Ballygilgan became a protected national nature reserve in 1986. The Irish government made it a special place. It's also known by other names like The Goose Field or Seafield. You can find it close to the Lissadell estate.
Why Protect This Area?
This reserve was created to help the barnacle geese. In the 1970s, there weren't as many of them. So, Ballygilgan became a safe home for these birds. It helps their numbers grow and stay healthy.
Home to Thousands of Geese
During the summer, sheep and cattle graze in the fields. But when winter comes, the geese arrive! The name "The Goose Field" comes from the huge number of barnacle geese that spend winter here. They eat grass and live near a pond that fills with fresh water in the colder months.
Usually, about 3,000 barnacle geese live here. This is the biggest group of these geese on the mainland of Ireland! They fly in around October and stay until April.
Other Amazing Wildlife
Many other water birds and wading birds also visit Ballygilgan in winter. These include different kinds of ducks like teal, wigeon, pintails, and shovelers. You might also spot redshanks, greenshanks, bar-tailed godwits, golden plovers, lapwings, and dunlins.
At the eastern end of the reserve, there's a special patch of cereal plants. Oats and linseed are grown there. This area attracts smaller birds like chaffinches, bramblings, greenfinches, goldfinches, and buntings. It's a busy place full of life!
