'The swallows are so cute when they hatch' nest watching in Laois for schoolchildren

Hundreds of Laois schoolchildren are getting to see the private life of local wild birds, from egg laying, to predator attacks, to chicks flying the nest, and it's free to view.

A live nest watch is underway this year on the farm of Ballyfin farmer and nature enthusiast Richard Duff.

Richard, renowned for his nature hides for visiting photographers, has placed cameras inside bird boxes and nests at his farm, next to the walled woodland in Ballyfin Demesne.

So far 25 primary schools in Laois are tuning in to watch the birdies, with kestrals, swallows, starlings and wood pigeons playing a starring role this year.

The Leinster Express / Laois Live learned more on a visit to the farm for a Dawn Chorus Walk, as part of Biodiversity Week 2025, in conjunction with Birdwatch Ireland Laois branch.

Participants in the Dawn Chorus guided walk on Richard Duff's farm in Ballyfin as part of 2025 Biodiversity Week, including Lisa Doyle, Laois Biodiversity Officer. Photo: Leinster Express

Richard and his daughter Ashling run the nestwatch, funded by Laois County Council under Laois Creative Communities Programme.

The children love it, Richard says.

“We are hoping to get up to 30 schools this year. There's over 60 national schools in the county, all emailed on it.

“We set up a WhatsApp group, so at least one teacher in each school would be on it. They get details every day from Ashling to say what's happened the day before.

“When the birds are feeding the chicks, when the eggs hatch out, when the first egg is laid.

“The reaction of the kids is very good. They get some gory details, like when the kestrals come back with a mouse to feed the chicks. There's very good feedback at the moment. They all seem to be enjoying it.

“You have to see nature in its rawness. For example in the wood pigeon's nest, she had two chicks just hatched and the pine marten came and took them. That happens in nature, that's part of nature. It's all part of wildlife.

“Pine martens have to feed their kits too. The wood pigeon will lay more eggs.

“If you don't have predators, the different stages of the food chain, you'd have too many wood pigeons out there. You'd have no pine martens if they had no food.

“Everything has to survive. It's all the balance of nature. If you start off with the insects, bees and butterflies, you'll get loads of caterpillers for small birds to feed their chicks. Sparrowhawks feed on the small birds, kestrals feed on the mice and so on up the food chain. Biodiversity is very important.

See photos by Richard Duff of wildlife snapped from his hides here.

A pine marten, a protected Irish species now repopulating in the wild. Photo: Richard Duff

“It all happens very quick on the cameras. Starling eggs hatch after two weeks. I know a lot of people don't like starlings, they think they're dirty, but they eat leatherjackets which help farmers with their crops.

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“The swallows are so cute when they hatch out first, they look so ugly when they get their pin feathers coming, and all of a sudden three weeks later they're gone.

“The kids feel like they get to know them, they even give them names,” he said.

Laois County Council's Creative Ireland Laois branch are proud to support it.

“Creative Ireland Laois are delighted to support this invaluable project. Richard and Ashling hold such passion for our local wildlife, this project enables them to share their passion and knowledge with the children of Laois’ a spokesperson said.

Lisa Doyle is Laois Biodiversity Officer.

“This innovative approach not only enriches the learning experience for children but also fosters early curiosity. It provides a rare and engaging insight into avian life cycles. The initiative reinforces children’s natural learning of nature by connecting classroom education with direct observations of the natural world. Projects such as this can play a vital role in fostering a lifelong connection and stewardship of the environment,” she said.

Laois schools wishing to join can contact Ashling Duff on 089 4122157