First 2014 goslings hatch at Boora

There was great excitement at Lough Boora Parklands on Thursday as the first of the 2014 batch of goslings hatched at Finnamore's Lake.

The five goslings will join feathered friends including the grey partridge that's part of a successful breeding scheme at the parklands, alongwith grey herons, egrits and a number of other birds.

Worryingly however, concerns have been raised that wildlife has vanished at the parklands.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent Lough Boora Parklands manager Tom Egan confirmed that the number of wild geese has 'unexpectedly declined' since Christmas, but refused to speculate what might have prompted the decrease in numbers.