Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Conservation status of birds in Ireland

The conservation status of bird species found in Ireland can be considered at international, European and local levels. For instance:

  • A number of species found in Ireland are classified IUCN red list species in a global context.
  • Thirty three species of bird listed under Annex I of the EU Birds Directive 79/409 are deemed relevant to Ireland. Species listed in Annex I are subject to special conservation measures concerning their habitat in order to ensure their survival and reproduction in their area of distribution.
  • Eighteen species of bird found in Ireland are of conservation concern according to the Heritage Council.
  • Sixteen of these are priorities under the BirdWatch Ireland / RSPB NI Birds of Conservation Concern In Ireland (BoCCI) list which classifies birds as Red, Amber or Green, based on their conservation status and hence conservation priority. These sixteen belie a longer list: in total there are 18 Red list birds (of high conservation concern) and 77 Amber list birds (of medium conservation concern). All other regularly occurring species are classified as Green List and are not considered threatened.
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The island of ireland

Once upon a time, and for 15000 years, ice a mile high blanketed Ireland. When the lingering Ice Age finally released and the Irish ice departed it left a landscape scoured. Across land bridges linking Ireland, Britain and mainland Europe plants and animals arrived to colonise the new lowlands, mountains and valleys. The world’s ice continued to melt, the sea levels to rise, and some 8000 years ago Ireland became the island we now know, accounting for just 0.01% of the world's total land area and the most westerly point of Europe.

Though at Alaskan latitudes, the country's climate is tempered, due partly to the neighbouring waters of the Gulf Stream and partly the prevailing southwesterlies that veering and backing make landfall on our sodden coast. These offerings from the Atlantic mean it is never too hot, never too cold. But without doubt it is wet. Rain lingers year round, never far away, though is most frequent in winter, the western counties and, inevitably, on the day of your parade.