Bird Life
There are on Lough Lene many bird species, in particular, Mute Swan, Teal, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Water Rail, Mallard, Goldeneye, Cormorant and Wigeon. Upon the surrounding lands are inhabited by Snipe, Lapwing and Curlew. Of particular significance is the Pochard population which, in the winters of 1995/1996 and 1996/1997, there were of national importance averaging 515 individual birds of this population.
Much of the lake shore is accessible to grazing cattle, goats, sheep and horses. Unpolluted hard-water lakes such as Lough Lene are becoming increasingly rare in Ireland and in Europe and are of a type that is listed upon the Annex of the E.U. Habitat Directive.
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