Maps of Protected Areas in Ireland

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is responsible, through the National Parks and Wildife Service, for the designation of conservation sites in Ireland. There are three types of protected areas in Ireland:

1. NHAs - Natural Heritage Areas
   A basic wildlife designation. Many NHAs overlap with SACs or SPAs. There are 802 that don't, covering 1,130 square kilopmeters.
2. SACs - Special Areas of Conservation
   Prime wildlife conservation areas, of importance in Irish and/or European context. These are selected and designated under the EU Habitats Directive and transposed into Irish law in the European Union (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997. Ireland has 381 candidate Special Areas of Conservation, covering circa 10,000 square kilometres. Approximately 25 SACs are also designated SPAs. View map of Irelands Special Areas of Conservation.
3. SPAs - Special Protection Areas
   Primarily areas of importance to birds. Designated under the EU Birds Directive. 110 SPAs have been designated, with a further 25 proposed. View map of Ireland's Special Protected Areas.

Find out more at:

• Botanic Garden's Protected Areas in Ireland
• Environmental Protection Agency's page on Ireland's Protected Areas

Heath-bog habitat protection for endangered Hen Harrier

The blanket ban on planting forestry in certain areas important to the survival of the endangered hen harrier has been lifted (March 2007). Instead, the Government has established a new forestry management protocol for the forestry and farming groups who had objected to the ban.

Under the protocol, six Special Protection Areas (SPA), important to the hen harrier, have been designated. In these, limited sustainable and quota-based afforestation will be allowed . It is thought that this will facilitate the protection and enhancement of the hen harrier's preferred habitat, including heath and bog. The National Parks and Wildlife Service will monitor the protocol's impact on habitat.

The Special Protection Areas include the:

• Slieve Bloom mountains (Laois and Offaly);
• Stack's to Mullaghareirk mountains, West Limerick hills and Mount Eagle (Cork, Kerry and Limerick);
• Mullaghanish to Musheramore (Cork);
• Slieve Felim to Silvermines (Limerick and Tipperary);
• Slieve Beagh (Monaghan) and
• Slieve Aughty mountains (Clare and Galway).

Read more:

• UCC research project: Optimum scenarios for Hen Harrier conservation in Ireland
• Bird net: Related news, hen harrier information and controversy over new SPAs
• Coillte's Biodiversity Action Plan for the Hen Harrier
  
  

Red Kite Reintroduction to Ireland

Red Kites are being reintroduced to Ireland. The reintroduction project will start in Co. Wicklow where thirty Kites will be released in 2007. This, once widespread, native bird of prey became extinct in Ireland in the eighteenth century, due to persecution, poisoning and woodland clearance.

The Red Kites are being sourced from Wales. After Wicklow, they will also be released in other locations in the east of Ireland. A similar project, planned for 2008, may reintroduce the birds to Northern Ireland.

Although the birds are natural scavengers, they feed extensively on earthworms, insects and small mammals such as rabbits. The Red Kite does not present any threat to livestock and may become a tourist attractions.

The Red Kite project is part of Ireland’s wider efforts to improve national Biodiversity. Ireland has the lowest range of birds of prey and owls in Europe.

The Wicklow Red Kite Project is a partnership between the Golden Eagle Trust, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Welsh Kite Trust. It is funded by grants from DEHLG and the Heritage Council.

Almost all the wintering population of Light-bellied Brent Geese

Strangford Lough is a large (150 sq km) shallow sea lough situated on the east coast of Co. Down in Northern Ireland. About a third of the Lough is intertidal - at low tide huge expanses of sandflats are exposed at the northern end. At high tide this area is covered in shallow water.

Strangford Lough supports plentiful wildlife from common and grey seals and porpoise, to horse mussels, sea-anemones, kelp forests, soft corals, sea-cucumbers, curled octopus and sunstars. Burrowing in the finer sands are brittlestar, pelican's-foot shells, and the sea pens. Birds include waders such as dunlin, turnstone, black and bar-tailed godwits, plover and knots. In winter, these are joined with up to 15000 overwintering Brent geese along with flocks of knot, dunlin, curlew, redshank and oystercatcher. The decline of widgeon and arrival of Little Egrets are thought to be as a result of climate change.

In total, over 2000 marine animals and plant species have been found, including 72% of all the species recorded from around the Northern Ireland coast. Of these, 28 are found only in the Lough.

• Lots more information on the biodiversity and management of Strangford Lough can be found at http://www.strangfordlough.org/
• Visit the Castle Espie Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre which forms part of the Strangford Lough Ramsar site.

How many species, and how many are threatened?

According to an Irish Times article on the threat to Ireland's wildlife, published 16 January 2007, Ireland's wildlife is thought to comprise:

• 31 species of mammal (OnlyOneIreland reckons there's 34 mammal species)
• 27 species of fish
• 12,000 species of flowering plants and trees
• 3,500 species of fungi
• 12,000 species of insects.

It is estimated that up to 200 of these species are threatened with extinction or have undergone serious decline in recent years.

• A total of 18 native bird species are on the red list of animals that have shown a 50 per cent decline in breeding numbers in the last 25 years. These include the corncrake, barn owl, black-necked grebe, hen harrier and grey partridge. Further still, around 20 bird species in Ireland are of conservation concern.
• A further 77 species of native Irish birds have undergone a decline of between 25 per cent and 50 per cent throughout Europe.
• Mammals on the endangered species list include the red squirrel, otter, mountain hare and all 10 bat species found in Ireland.
• The natterjack toad, native only to a small part of Co Kerry, is also on Ireland's endangered list.

Ireland, along with the rest of the EU, is commited under international biodiversity agreements to halt the loss of its biodiversity by 2010. The Notice Nature campaign, launched in January 2007, contributes to Ireland's commitment.

• Read more about Ireland's mammals
• Read more about Ireland's birds
• Read more about Ireland's fish
• Read about the Notice Nature campaign

Reintroducing white-tailed Sea Eagles to Kerry

One hundred years after becoming extinct in Ireland, the White-tailed Sea Eagle is set to soar again. Over a five year period starting in summer 2007, 15 chicks a year (sourced from Norway under licence) will be reintroduced to the wilds of Killarney National Park in Co. Kerry. Monitoring will take place after release. After five years it is hoped that the birds will begin to breed and spread out across the rich peninsulas, coast, windswept islands and deep bays of Kerry and West Cork.

The project takes its lead from other successful projects in Ireland and Scotland. Apart from the cultural and tourism benefits of having eagles back in Kerry, this project will help Ireland meet its commitment to maintain and enhance native wildlife under the Rio de Janeiro Convention on Biodiversity.

The project is being overseen by a specialist group coordinated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Golden Eagle Trust and others.

• Read the press release on the reintroduction of sea eagles to Ireland
• Read about the successful Golden Eagle reintroduction project
  

Icelandic whooper swans winter in Ireland

Three species of swan occur in Ireland the Whooper, Mute and Bewick. Of the five breeding populations of whooper swan (found from the Mediterranean to Asia) those that choose to overwinter in Ireland hail from Icelandic stock.

Starting early November, they make landfall in such places as Loughs Swilly and Foyle in Counties Donegal and Derry. From these northern regions, they disperse south along the coast, and to inland freshwater lakes, marshes and farmland.

In January 1995, Ireland's seasonal population of whooper swans was estimated at 16000 birds. It is said that 5 per cent of the world's whooper swan overwinter in Upper Lough Earne in County Fermanagh and 6 per cent at Lough Neagh, in County Tyrone. Open fields, meadows and bogs near Newgrange in County Meath also provide wintering grounds for a flock of between 30 and 230 swans. In spring they turn tail again, leaving Ireland for Iceland.

• Listen to the Mooney Goes Wild radio programme 'The Whooper Swan - from Iceland to Ireland' (listed on the page as programme 4)
  
  


• What birds to see where and when - Birdwatching in Northern Ireland

20 birds of conservation concern

Some of the birds of conservation concern in Ireland according to the BoCCI or IUCN Red List are listed below. Their preferred habitat and geographic distribution is also noted.

BoCCI Red list

1. Common Scoter (lowland lakes, mainly found in west)
2. Grey Partridge (farmland and bog, localised)
3. Hen Harrier (moorland, forestry, upland, mainly in south)
4. Corncrake (farmland, localised)
5. Roseate Tern (coastal + islands only)
6. Red-necked Phalarope (coastal marsh, north-west Mayo only)
7. Nightjar (upland + diverse, localised)
8. Barn Owl (widespread, buildings)
9. Twite (upland and coastal, mainly west)
10. Lapwing (farmland)
11. Curlew (farmland)
12. Ring Ouzel (upland)
13. Yellowhammer (farmland)
14. Chough (coastal cliffs and caves, mainly west and south coasts)

BoCCI Amber list

1. Golden Plover (upland)
2. Little Tern (coast and wetlands)

On the IUCN Red List, but not on BoCCI list

1. Quail
2. Red Grouse
3. Black-necked Grebe (extinct in Ireland)
4. Corn Bunting (coastal scrub, probably extinct as breeding species)

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.

4 distinctly Irish birds

Ireland has 4 species of bird which have adapted to their Irish habitats, are significantly different from their UK/European counterparts and are considered distinct Irish races. These are the

• Coal Tit
• Dipper
• Jay
• Red Grouse

Benchmarking Ireland's birds

Ireland and Britain share many bird species (Ireland has even fostered some of Scotland's Golden Eagles) so it is fitting that we share a bird atlas. Bird atlases are the main source of information on the distribution and abundance of birds. Usually revised every 15 to 20 years, they are a benchmark that allow us to monitor bird populations over time. Fieldwork for an updated bird atlas for Ireland and Britain is due to begin in 2007.

The project will review winter and summer distributions of birds, thus providing valuable evidence of how birds are faring in their fast-changing urban and rural landscape. Meanwhile, you can:

• use previously completed atlases to view and compare the distribution of breeding birds species in Ireland in 1968-72 and 1988-91 or to view the winter distribution of bird species in Ireland during the winters of 1981-82 and 1983-84


• take a training session in spring 2007 so you can volunteer to help with atlas fieldwork. Contact Birdwatch Ireland on tel: 01-2819878 or email info@birdwatchireland.ie.

The new atlas is being developed by Birdwatch Ireland, the British Trust for Ornithology and the Scottish Ornithologists Club with support from Ireland's Heritage Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Northern Ireland's Environment and Heritage Services.

A stopover for arctic-nesting species,

Unlike US warplanes, the cead mile birds that use Ireland as a migratory refueling point or winter stopover receive a cead mile failte. Ireland’s mild weather makes it a suitable home for many over-wintering water birds, although the crustaceans and shellfish must shudder in the soupy mudflats when they hear them arrive.

Winter hastens the arrival of arctic wading birds including knot, dunlin, godwit and redshank to probe our estuarine mud. Whooper swans, Canadian and Greenland geese, Icelandic, Russian and Scandinavian ducks make their annual return to our skies. Redwings, fieldfares, starlings, chaffinches, waxwings, also from Scandinavia, come visiting our autumnal gardens, picking at berries, bird tables and teasels. British lapwings and continental curlew and woodcock arrive. Summer visitors to Ireland include swallows, corncrakes, warblers and wheatears.

The habitats of these transitory birds need ongoing monitoring and protection. According to Birdwatch Ireland:

"Ireland's position along the major flyways of arctic-nesting species, together with its relatively mild climate (which provides ice-free feeding opportunities) supports large numbers and a high diversity of migratory and wintering waterbirds. Our diverse wetland habitats provide a home for an equally diverse wetland bird community, which are increasingly coming under threat from human developments. While a large proportion of Irish wetland habitats have already been lost through land claim during this century, the variety, scale and form of developments have never been greater than at present. Proposals for housing developments, marinas, aquaculture, tidal barrages and wind-turbines all threaten essential feeding and roosting areas for wintering waterfowl. The effects are compounded by the associated disturbance problems due to increased recreational usage of shorelines in the light of such developments. Ireland thus have an obligation to protect and conserve these species and the habitats they depend on, so that together with other countries along the various flyways, their populations are maintained."

These international responsibilities are recognised through the Irish government's participation in a number of conventions and agreements, including the

• Ramsar Convention
• EU Birds Directive
• EU Habitats Directive and,
• since 1999, the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds Agreement (AEWA) of the Bonn Convention

Glenveagh National Park, Co. Donegal

This 170 sq km granite-bedded wilderness of lakes, ice-carved cliffs, gentle hills, deep peat bogs and the swampy Owencarrow river valley cradles Ireland's golden eagle reintroduction project. Natural woodlands of oak and birch are inhabited by badgers, foxes and stoats. Bird life includes siskins, treecreepers, redstarts and wood warblers. Pyramidal Errigal, Donegal highest peak overlooks the park, its uplands punctuated by ravens, peregrines, stonechat and grouse, and prettied with the yellow flowers of tormentil and bog asphodel. Glenveagh (meaning Glen of the Birches) contains a herd of red deer (not of native Irish stock).

Find out more at:

• http://homepage.eircom.net/~knp/glenveagh/index.htm
• http://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/travel/attractions/gardens/glenv.shtm

There be golden eagles in them hills

In the cradle of the Glenveagh National Park in Co Donegal, at the edge of northwest Ireland, the Golden Eagle Reintroduction Project has been reintroducing these raptors to Ireland since 2001. Donegal was chosen for its suitable habitat, the locals’ love of wildlife and the rapport between the farming community and conservationists. Tourism groups also have an interest as the Eagles may attract tourists. The majority of their potential ranges here are Natura 2000 sites, protected habitats for flora and fauna of European importance. Research indicates that County Donegal could hold 7-10 pairs of Golden Eagles and Ireland may eventually have 50 – 100 pairs.

Ireland currently has 6 breeding birds of prey species, the lowest number in the European Union. Habitat loss, egg collection and persecution (shooting, hunting, poisoning) caused the extinction of White-tailed Eagle, Osprey, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier and Goshawk since the 1700s. Golden Eagles became extinct in Ireland in 1910.

These raptors have a 2m wing span, can live for over 20 years and hunt rabbits, hares and other prey over a broad (up to 260 square km) territory. The Irish Farmers Association was consulted on and supported the introduction despite some farmers fearing that the Eagles would predate lambs. Compensation was promised should any such predation be proven.
The project is funded by by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Heritage Council. Dúchas (Ireland’s authority for nature conservation) is also involved.

The reintroduction project meets 53 reintroduction guidelines laid down by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Four to five week old Eaglets are sourced from the Scottish wilds under licence. Sourcing Eaglets has recently become more difficult as recent years have been poor for Golden Eagle breeding in Scotland.

Individual released birds are tracked with radio transmitters and can be identified by a tag on each wing. 46 birds have been released, and at least 26 were known to be alive during 2005. Others may be dead or carry failed radio transmitters. Five territories are now occupied. Out of four pairs two produced clutches of eggs, but none successfully hatched – in some cases because the birds are still young and inexperienced breeders. Enough eagles will be released to ensure a sufficient number survive to form a viable breeding population. This project aims to release enough have a dozen breeding pairs at Glenveagh by 2011.

Keep an eye on the www.goldeneagle.ie website for updates. The latest update is for the spring/summer season 2006.