A new project being developed on Lough Ree hopes to increase the number of ducks on the lake significantly.
The scheme is being implemented by NPWS warden Owen Murphy who says he first came across the idea after reading about a project carried out in the US.
He says special straw tube-like nests are being put in a number of locations around the lake and the idea is that the ducks have better protection for their eggs while they're hatching.
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Owen says that the duck population isn't in any difficulty but increasing their numbers means that predators might leave other more vulnerable birds alone.
He says around 30 of the tube nests have been put out around the lake recently and they hope to deploy another 20 in the coming weeks…
