Countryside Bird Survey Report

Transcription

1 Countryside Bird Survey Report

2 Summary The Countryside Bird Survey (CBS) has been in operation since Its primary aim is to monitor breeding bird populations in the Republic of Ireland. A random sample of 10 km squares was selected, and within each, the most southwesterly 1 km square is surveyed twice during each breeding season. Bird numbers are counted along two roughly parallel 1km transects in each square. This report summarises the results for the 13-year period between 1998 and A total of 399 squares has been surveyed, with between 259 and 325 squares covered in any one season. Coverage was greatest in the east and southeast regions, and poorest in the northwest and south. Nonetheless, the number of squares covered regularly in each region was deemed adequate for meaningful analyses of the population trends of several species, including trends at a regional level. Some 396 squares were surveyed in two or more seasons and were included in trend analyses. Trend analyses were produced at national level for all species occurring in an average of 30 squares or more over the period, and for each of the eight sampling regions for species that occurred in 20 squares. The total number of species recorded was 150. This includes 53 species that occurred in 30 or more squares and that are eligible for meaningful trend analyses, of which 13 are species of conservation concern in Ireland. Wren Troglodytes troglodytes, Robin Erithacus rubecula, Blackbird Turdus merula and Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs were the most widespread occurring species, being found in 90% or more of squares, while Rook Corvus frugilegus, Starling Sturnus vulgaris, and Wren were the most abundant. Overall, 17 species showed increasing trends, 13 species declined, while the remaining 23 species remained relatively stable. Greatest increases were seen in Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis, Redpoll C. flammea, and Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula. Greatest declines were in Swift Apus apus, Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea, Kestrel Falco tinnunculus and Greenfinch Chloris chloris. National trends were broadly consistent across sampling regions for most species, especially Woodpigeon Columba palumbus and Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus which increased in all regions where trend analyses were possible. Great Tit Parus major increased in four out of five regions, while Greenfinch declined in four out of five regions and Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis declined in two out of three regions. Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella remained stable nationally throughout the CBS, but showed a decline in its stronghold region, the southeast. The index in 2010 for 15 species was the lowest ever recorded during the CBS, and for most seems to have been due to the impact of the coldweather spell during the previous winter, 2009/10. Species that were impacted greatest include Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea, Stonechat Saxicola torquata, Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus and Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis. Report Number 4 BirdWatch Ireland This publication should be cited as: Crowe, O., R. H. Coombes, A. Lauder, L. Lysaght, C. O Brien, J. O Halloran, O. O Sullivan, T. D. Tierney, A. J. Walsh Countryside Bird Survey Report BirdWatch Ireland, Wicklow. Design & layout by Michael O Clery. Printed by Persona. Cover picture: Stonechat by Michael Finn. The Countryside Bird Survey (CBS) Organised by: BirdWatch Ireland, Unit 20 Block D, Bullford Business Campus, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2. Funded and supported by NPWS. I-WeBS Steering Group includes David Tierney and Alyn Walsh (NPWS), Alan Lauder, Oran O Sullivan, Dick Coombes and Olivia Crowe (BirdWatch Ireland), Liam Lysaght (National Biodiversity Data Centre), Cliona O Brien (Heritage Council) & John O Halloran (University College Cork) who chairs the group. CBS Coordinator: Dick Coombes. Data Manager: Olivia Crowe.

3 Introduction The status of Ireland s terrestrial breeding bird populations prior to 1998 is not fully known, although two breeding bird atlases, undertaken between 1968 and 1972 (Sharrock 1976) and between 1988 and 1991 (Gibbons et al. 1993), showed that some substantial range contractions had taken place over the twenty-year span. This in turn had implications for changes in population levels. The declines in distribution range of several farmland bird species coincided with a period of increased agricultural intensification. Similar declines occurred throughout Europe over the same period, and were attributed to agricultural intensification which was brought about by increased demand for agricultural productivity following the Second World War (Krebs et al. 1999, Donald et al. 2001). Agriculture continues to occupy the largest proportion (almost two-thirds) of Ireland s land surface area (Department of Agriculture and Food 2008), with the remaining land area consisting mostly of peatland (14% of total land area, Connolly et al. 2007) and woodland (9%, Anon. 2007). Perhaps as a consequence of a continuously changing environment, the majority of Ireland s birds have become adapted to, and are widely distributed in a variety of habitats The Countryside Bird Survey (CBS) was initiated in 1998 with the primary objective of monitoring the trends of common and widespread breeding bird species in the Republic of Ireland. It is an annual survey that employs the efforts of close to 200 observers each year. This report presents a summary of the results of the CBS over the 13 year period from 1998 to 2010 inclusive. Methods The scientific names of all species mentioned are listed in Appendix 1. The CBS uses a line-transect method. Two bird-recording visits to each survey square per year are undertaken. These visits are timed so that the first is in the early part of the breeding season (April to mid-may) and the second at least four weeks later (from mid-may to the end of June). This reflects the abundance of residents and early migrants, which tend to be more easily detected on the first visit, and later migrants, which are more abundant in the second visit. Observers are asked to begin their counts between 06:00 and 07:00 hours to coincide with maximum bird activity, but to avoid concentrated song activity at dawn. Observers are also encouraged to record only adult birds they see or hear as they walk along their transect routes. Bird counts in heavy rain, poor visibility, or strong winds are discouraged. Survey work has been undertaken during all seasons since 1998, but was prevented in 2001 by foot-and-mouth restrictions. Population trends were produced for the Republic of Ireland and were also produced for each of the eight sampling regions (Fig. 1). Full details on the survey design and production of species indices are presented in Appendix 2. Colonial nesting species are not adequately monitored using the CBS methodology. Trends for these species, particularly seabirds and some breeding wader species are not presented here. 1 Dick Coombes

4 Results Coverage In total, 399 squares have been surveyed at least once between 1998 and 2010 (Fig. 1). The number of squares covered in any one season ranged from 259 in 1998 to 325 in Overall, 25% of squares were covered in all years, 51% of squares in 10 years or more and 86% of squares were covered in at least six years. Trend analyses were limited to the 396 squares which were surveyed in two or more seasons. Coverage was greatest in the east and southeast regions, and was moderately high in the northeast. Almost all 10km squares in the eastern and southeastern regions are represented, while 76% of squares have been covered in the northeast region and between 41% and 50% of squares in the remaining five regions. The number of squares covered regularly in each region was deemed adequate for meaningful analyses of the population trends of several species, including trends at a regional level. The CBS has been undertaken by a combination of BirdWatch Ireland volunteers and professional staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and BirdWatch Ireland. Approximately 300 squares are surveyed annually. Figure 1. Map showing coverage during the CBS between 1998 and 2010, illustrating the eight sampling regions, also showing the extent of coverage within each (ranging from darkest squares = years to lightest = 1-3 years). Species In total, 150 species were recorded between 1998 and 2010, 57 of which were recorded in 30 or more squares and are eligible for trend analyses. This latter group includes three species which are red-listed and 14 amberlisted on the Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland (Lynas et al. 2007) (Table 1). The remaining 93 less frequently recorded species include 35 species which have been regularly recorded (in all years) and which are presented in Table 2, and a further 58 species which are listed in Appendix 3. 2 Wren, Robin, Blackbird and Chaffinch have remained the most widespread species, and all were recorded in over 90% of squares (Table 1), and a further 17 species were recorded in 50% of squares or more. This list of species that meet the 30-square threshold is broadly comparable with that presented for the period, with the exception of Spotted Flycatcher which has dropped below the threshold, and being replaced by Sand Martin which occurred in 32 squares on average over the period. Rook was by far the most numerous species recorded, with a mean of 32 birds per square (in squares where recorded) (Table 1). Starling, Wren, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw and Blackbird were also numerous. In contrast, Grey Wagtail, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were least numerous species recorded. Trend analyses were produced for 53 species which occurred in at least 30 squares and for which these trend analyses are meaningful (Table 3). This list excludes two wader and three gull species which are considered to be

5 inadequately monitored using CBS methodology. This includes one red-listed in the Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland (Lynas et al. 2007), the Yellowhammer, and a further 12 which are amber-listed. Overall, 17 species were shown to increase, 13 species declined, while the remaining 23 species remained stable (Table 3). Strongest increases were seen in Blackcap, Goldfinch, Redpoll, and Bullfinch, while greatest declines were in Swift, Grey Wagtail, Kestrel and Greenfinch (Fig. 2). Most of the national trends shown were consistent across all sampling regions (Table 3). Most notable among these were Woodpigeon which increased in all regions, Willow Warbler which increased in all seven regions for which analyses were possible, Great Tit which increased in four out of five regions analysed, Pheasant which increased in five regions, Robin which declined in five regions, Greenfinch which declined in four out of five regions and Meadow Pipit which declined in two out of the three regions. Conflicting trends between regions was seen in Hooded Crow, which increased in four out of six regions and declined in the west and midlands regions, and Swallow which increased in the east and midlands regions and declined in the southwest. While the Yellowhammer trend was stable at national level, it showed a significant decline in the southeast region. For many species, the index in 2010 was substantially lower when compared with 2009 and dropped to its lowest ever levels since the CBS began for 15 species (Fig. 3). Greatest declines (of more than 50%) were recorded for Grey Wagtail, Stonechat and Long-tailed Tit, while there were also notable declines (between 30% and 50%) in Sparrowhawk, Sand Martin, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Song Thrush, Goldcrest and Raven (Fig. 3). In total, there were 15 species that showed declines of more than 20% between 2009 and 2010 (Fig. 3). Goldcrest has suffered a notable decline Carl Morrow - 3

6 Table 1. Species recorded in 30 squares or more during the CBS between 1998 and 2010, indicating the mean number and proportion of squares in which each species was recorded and mean abundance per square. Red and amber-listed species of birds of conservation concern in Ireland (BoCCI) are also indicated. Species 1 Species Mean number Mean proportion Mean code of squares of squares (%) abundance 2 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos MA Pheasant Phasianus colchicus PH Grey Heron Ardea cinerea H Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus SH Kestrel Falco tinnunculus K Moorhen Gallinula chloropus MH Snipe * Gallinago gallinago SN Curlew * Numenius arquata CU Lesser Black-backed Gull * Larus fuscus LB Herring Gull * Larus argentatus HG Feral Pigeon Columba livia FP Stock Dove Columba oenas SD Woodpigeon Columba palumbus WP Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto CD Cuckoo Cuculus canorus CK Swift Apus apus SI Skylark Alauda arvensis S Sand Martin Riparia riparia SM Swallow Hirundo rustica SL House Martin Delichon urbica HM Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis MP Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea GL Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba PW Wren Troglodytes troglodytes WR Dunnock Prunella modularis D Robin Erithacus rubecula R Stonechat Saxicola torquata SC Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe W Blackbird Turdus merula B Song Thrush Turdus philomelos ST Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus M Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia GH Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus SW Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla BC Whitethroat Sylvia communis WH Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita CC Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus WW Goldcrest Regulus regulus GC Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus LT Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus BT Great Tit Parus major GT Coal Tit Periparus ater CT Magpie Pica pica MG Jackdaw Corvus monedula JD Rook Corvus frugilegus RO Hooded Crow Corvus corone cornix HC Raven Corvus corax RN Starling Sturnus vulgaris SG House Sparrow Passer domesticus HS Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs CH Greenfinch Chloris chloris GR Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis GO Linnet Carduelis cannabina LI Redpoll Carduelis flammea LR Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula BF Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Y Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus RB Red and amber listed Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland (BoCCI) are indicated by text colour. 2 Based on squares where the respective species were present only. * Waterbirds that are not accurately monitored by CBS. 4

7 Table 2. Other species that were regularly recorded during the CBS between 1998 and 2010, although in fewer than 30 squares, indicating the mean number and proportion of squares in which each species was recorded and mean abundance per square. Species 1 Mean number Mean proportion Mean of squares of squares (%) abundance 2 Mute Swan Cygnus olor Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Teal Anas crecca Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Fulmar * Fulmarus glacialis Gannet * Sula bassana Cormorant * Phalacrocorax carbo Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus Buzzard Buteo buteo Peregrine Falco peregrinus Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Coot Fulica atra Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Golden Plover 3 Pluvialis apricaria Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Whimbrel 3 Numenius phaeopus Redshank Tringa totanus Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Black-headed Gull * Chroicocephalus ridibundus Common Gull * Larus canus Great Black-backed Gull * Larus marinus Sandwich Tern * Sterna sandvicensis Common Tern * Sterna hirundo Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Rock Pipit Anthus spinoletta littoralis Dipper Cinclus cinclus Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Jay Garrulus glandarius Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Siskin Carduelis spinus Red and amber listed Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland (BoCCI) are indicated by text colour. 2 Based on squares where the respective species were present only. 3 Migrants that are probably from non-breeding wintering or passage populations. * Colonial-nesting waterbirds that are not accurately monitored by CBS. Long-tailed Tit showed substantial decline following the cold winter of 2009/10 Starling is one of the most numerous species recorded in CBS Micael Finn Michael Finn 5

8 Table 3. Trends for species at national (Republic of Ireland) and at regional level (north-east, east, south-east, south, south-west, west, north-west and midlands), indicating the annual percentage change occurring throughout the period together with an indication of significance. In each case, the percentage change overall based on the line of best fit (mean annual change) is given. ** indicates a highly significant trend (p<0.01), and * of moderate significance (p<0.05). Blank cells indicate that sample size was too small for meaningful analysis at regional level. Increases are shaded green (dark green reflects strong increases), while declines are shaded in orange. Species Rep. of Ireland North-east East South-east South South-west West North-west Midlands Mallard Pheasant 2.58 ** 3.18 ** 5.59 ** 2.75 * 2.94 ** 3.42 ** Grey Heron ** Sparrowhawk Kestrel * Moorhen 1.47 Feral Pigeon 1.55 Stock Dove Woodpigeon 2.42 ** 2.24 ** 1.13 * 3.52 ** 2.46 ** 2.41 ** 2.8 ** 3.54 ** 2.2 * Collared Dove 3.64 ** Cuckoo Swift ** Skylark ** Sand Martin 0.36 Swallow ** * * House Martin 1.26 Meadow Pipit ** ** ** Grey Wagtail ** Pied Wagtail ** 0.71 Wren * Dunnock Robin -1.1 ** ** -1.4 ** ** * * Stonechat Wheatear Blackbird 0.66 ** ** 0.86 * 1.73 * Song Thrush ** Mistle Thrush ** ** Grasshopper Warbler 3.87 ** Sedge Warbler 1.3 Blackcap 15.5 ** Whitethroat 1.29 Chiffchaff 1.74 ** 3.79 ** Willow Warbler 3.99 ** 2.39 * 3.73 ** 5.1 ** 4 ** 2.75 ** 5.02 ** 3.73 ** Goldcrest -1.5 * * ** Long-tailed Tit 1.27 Blue Tit 1.11 ** * ** ** Great Tit 2.61 ** 3.48 ** 4.07 ** 4.02 ** 3.35 ** Coal Tit 1.46 ** 3.85 ** Magpie ** ** * ** ** Jackdaw 1.35 ** ** Rook ** -7.3 ** ** * Hooded Crow * ** 2.56 ** * 3.42 * ** Raven Starling * * ** House Sparrow 3.63 ** 5.14 ** Chaffinch 0.58 * 3.06 ** * 0.57 Greenfinch ** * ** ** ** Goldfinch 7.57 ** 7.08 ** 1.62 Linnet Redpoll 9.32 ** Bullfinch 4.81 ** 8.17 SI * 4.77 ** Yellowhammer * Reed Bunting 0.87 Total increasing Total declining Total stable/ uncertain Total species

9 Figure 2. Significant trends shown for a selection of increasing and declining species between 1998 and Bullfinch increasing Greenfinch has declined substantially in recent years Bill Quin Clive Timmons 7

10 Figure 3. Percentage change in indices for each species between 2009 and Significant trends between 1998 and 2010 are illustrated, with increasing species highlighted in green and declining species in orange. Species for which the 2010 was lowest ever (during CBS) are outlined. Refer to Table 1 for species codes. Discussion The population trends of almost 60 bird species can now be adequately monitored through the CBS, with the current level of volunteer and NPWS commitment. This work has shown that terrestrial breeding bird populations have generally fared well with most remaining stable or showing increase during the 13-year period between 1998 and Among the species of conservation concern in Ireland that are monitored, most are stable, with declines shown in four species Kestrel, Swift, Skylark and Starling. The declines in the first three listed have persisted throughout most of the CBS reportings (Coombes et al. 2006, Coombes et al. 2009), and these are consistent with trends across the UK (Risely et al. 2011). The increasing trends seen in two species of conservation concern, Grasshopper Warbler and House Sparrow, are also consistent with reports based on earlier periods 8 Willow Warbler our most abundant summer migrant. (Coombes et al. 2009). Perhaps the most remarkable among the increasing species overall is the continued and ongoing increase Blackcap, having shown an increase of more than 500% since the survey began. This trend is also consistent with that shown in the UK, especially Scotland where there was a 209% increase between 1995 and The consistency in trends between regions was especially notable for Woodpigeon, which increased in all regions. It is also increasing throughout most of the UK (Risely et al. 2011), with the exception of Scotland where it is stable. Willow Warbler also increased in all regions where analyses were possible. In the UK, it increased in Northern Ireland and Scotland over the same period (Risely et al. 2011), and this contrasts with a declining trend in England. Morrison et al. (2010) reported spatially variable trends in this species across Britain and Ireland, with sharp decreases in the south and east of England, gradually increasing to shallow declines and slight increases in north and west England,

11 Scotland and Ireland, possibly due to changing climatic conditions across different parts of Britain and Ireland. There was a decline in the number of species showing increasing trends when compared with previous reports (Coombes et al. 2009, Crowe et al. 2010), from 22 species based on trends generated for the 1998 to 2009 period to 17, and there was an increase in the number of declining species from eight to 13. It seems that many of Ireland s small-bodied resident species were adversely affected by the cold snap that occurred during the winter of 2009/10 which was the most extreme since This cold spell persisted throughout December and into the first half of January (Met Éireann 2009, 2010a). The decline in Stonechat between breeding seasons in 2009 and 2010 was perhaps most noteworthy given previous reported increases throughout the course of the CBS up to 2009 (Coombes et al. 2009, Crowe et al. 2010). Numbers in 2010 declined to just 32% of the baseline index in The decline in this species, and also in Meadow Pipit, confirmed a large volume of anecdotal reports from CBS observers and other birdwatchers quite early on in 2010 about the notable absence of both species from many areas around the country. The declines in both these species are consistent with The index for Grey Wagtail in 2010 was the lowest ever recorded during the CBS, due to the cold-weather during the previous winter, 2009/10. Perhaps the recent mild winter will allow Meadow Pipit numbers to recover those across the UK during the same interval (Risely et al. 2011). It was not surprising that other residents such as Robin, Wren, Goldcrest and Longtailed Tit were similarly affected given that access to their invertebrate winter food supply would have been hampered by prolonged periods of frost and snow. The 15 species which showed a decline in excess of 20% between 2009 and 2010 included three summer migrants, Sand Martin, Wheatear and Grasshopper Warbler, as well larger-bodied resident species Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove and Raven. Reasons for these particular declines ichael Finn Sahy Connolly are not entirely clear. It is possible that the changes occurring in these species are continuations of their regular trends that may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as productivity and/ or changes taking place in the wintering areas (migrant species). No decline was evident for these species between 2009 and 2010 in the UK, and most showed an increase or were stable (Risely et al. 2011). The following winter of 2010/11 proved to be even colder, with the lowest temperatures ever recorded in Ireland in December 2010 (Met Éireann 2010b), and this has been followed by a mild winter in 2011/12, with mean air temperatures above normal throughout (Met Éireann 2012). It is probable that inconsistency of these winter weather patterns will continue to have affected the trends of some resident species. It is expected that Stonechat, Meadow Pipit and others that appeared to have suffered from the cold winter of 2009/10 will have continued their downward trends into 2011, but perhaps the recent mild winter will be sufficient to allow some recovery in these populations. Nonetheless, the ability of the CBS to quantify the impacts that cold winter weather patterns have on common and widespread birds supports the value of this continued and ongoing scheme for monitoring bird populations in Ireland. 9

12 Acknowledgements We thank all our dedicated observers: J. Adamson, S. Alcorn, P. Anderson, Bro Angelo, E. Archer, T. Aughney, C. Ayres, T. Baldock, E. Bannon, M. Bartlett, P. Bartlett, C. Barton, H. Baumann, M. Bell, J Benito, B. Bergin, D. Berridge, S. Berrow, S Biggane, B. Black, H. Boland, H. Bothwell, F. Bracken, F. Brady, D. Breen, S. Breen, D. Brennan, M. Brennan, N. Brennan, T. Broe, M. Bryan, N. Bugler, P. Burke, P. Burke-Kennedy, T. Burkitt, M. Bushell,& R. Bushell, J. Byrne, B. Caffrey, S. Callaghan, G. Campbell, R. Cannon, S. Carmody, B. Carrick, J. Carroll, T. Carruthers, A. Carter, E. Carty, H. Carty, C. Casey, S. Casey, M. Cashman, N. Cassidy, C. Cawley, P. Christie, S. Clark, D. Clarke, C. Clenaghan, G. Clerkin, C. Clotworthy, M. Cobley, D. Cole, K. Colhoun, K. Collins, J. Coman, P. Comerford, D. Coney, E. Conneelly, N. Conneelly, N. Conneely, P. Conneely, C. Connolly, M. Connolly, P. Connors, J. Conroy, D. Coombes, A. Cooper, A. Copland, W. Cormacan, S. Corry, P. Cosgrove, J. Costelloe, J. Coveney, P. Cox, P. Craven, M. Creegan, J. Cromie, J. Cronin, C. Croton, O. Crowe, M. Crowley, S. Culhane, T. Culhane, D. Cullen, T. Culley, M. Culligan, S. Cummins, K. Cunnane, B. Dalby, G. Daly, J. Davis, M. Davis, H. Delaney, P. Dempsey, J. Dick, C. Dignam, E. Diver, T. Doherty, A. Donaghy, J. Doolan, K. Dooney, E. Doran, P. Dowding, P. Dower, M. Doweth, F. Doyle, P. Doyle, G. Draper, N. Duff, B. Duffy, D. Duggan, G. Duncan, T. Dunne, R. Dunphy, P. Durkin, T. Durkin, J. Durrant, B. Dwyer, M. Eakin, M. Egan, P. Egan, S. Egan, J. Emmett, L. English, M. Enright, S. Enright, N. Evans, F. Fagan, P. Fanning, F. Farrell, F. Farrell, M. Farrell, S. Farrell, R. Feeney, J. Fingleton, T. Finnen, K. Finney, B. Fitzpatrick, T. Flanagan, P. Flemming, D. Flett, C. Flynn, M. Flynn, A. Foley, C. Foley, M. Foley, O. Foley, P. Foley, S. Fortune, D. Foulkes, J. Fox, E. Foyle, K. Freeman, P. Fuentes, D. Gaffney, T. Gallagher, J. Gallagher, P. Galvin, R. Gardner, E. Gavin, E. Giddy, E. Glanville, A. Glenn-Craigie, M. Glynn, J. Gordon, T. Gordon, T. Gordon, J. Gorman, B. Gormley, B. Gormley, P. Graham, N. Gray, J. Greene, R. Greene, T. Griffin, M. Gunn, D. Haisley, L. Hambrook, J. Hand, H. Hanley, & J. Hanley, V. Hanlon, C. Hannon, G. Hardwicke, M. Harkin, N. Harmey, N. Hatch, D. Healy, M. Healy, C. Heardman, S. Heery, F. Henry, J. Henry, G. Higgins, J. Higgins, P. Higgins, I. Hill, M. Hirst, D. Hogan, M. Hogan, S. Hogan, C. Honan, J. Hopkins, C. Houlihan, M. Hughes, G. Hunt, J. Hunt, T. Hunter, T. Hyde, R. Imbush, B. Ingoldsby, J. Ivory, G. Jackson, M. Jackson, J. James, S. Jones, J. Kavanagh, P. Kavanagh, T. Kealy, E. Keegan, P. Keating, N. Kellaghan, K. Kelleher, R. Kellett, A. Kelly, J. & A. Kelly, J. Kennedy, F. Kerr, A. Kiely, J. Kilroy, A. Kinsella, K. Kinsella, P. Kysela, A. Lambe, J. Lawlor, R. Leak, L. Lenehan, N. Lenehan, L. Lewis, I. Logan, J. Lovatt, J. Lusby, A. Lynch, A. Lynch, R. Lynch, L. Lysaght, K. Macklin, C. MacLochlainn, E. Magee, S. Mallon, C. Malone, D. Manley, R. Mann, B. Martin, W. Martin, A. Mason, S. Masterson, J. Matthews, J. McAdam, K. McAney, B. McCabe, N. McCabe, P. McCarron, F. McCarthy, K. McCormick, L. McDaid, M. McDonagh, C. McDonald, S. McDonnell, S. McGinty, B. McGrath, E. McGreal, B. McGuigan, C. McGuire, B. McInerney, S. McKeever, J. McKenna, R. McKenna, E. McKenna, H. McLindon, E. McLoughlin, B. McMahon, F. McMahon, J. McNally, B. McNamara, D. McNamara, R. McNaughton, P. & B. McQuillan, J. Meade, S. Meaney, T. Mee, C. Merne, O. Merne, B. Meskell, E. Meskill, R. Miller, L. Milne, J. Milroy, R. Moles, J. Monaghan, D. Moore, J. Moore, M. Moore, P. Morgan, M. Morris, D. Morrison, P. Mulhern, B. Murphy, C. Murphy, D. Murphy, J. Murphy, K. Murphy, M. Murphy, P. Murphy, E. Murray, T. Murray, E. Muyllaert, T. Nagle, D. Nesbitt, W. Newe, A. Ni Shuilleabhain, A. Nolan, D. Nolan, J. Nolan, G. Noonan, J. Noonan, M. Noonan, M. Noonan, K. Nunan, J. O'Boyle, I. O'Brien, M. O'Brien, S. O'Brien, P. O'Carroll, M. O'Clery, M. O'Coileain, D. O'Connell, K. O'Connell, L. O'Connell, M. O'Connell. B. O'Connor, D. O'Criodain, A. O'Donaill, D. O'Donnell, G. O'Donnell, M. O'Donnell, P. O'Donnell, B. O'Donoghue, P. O'Donoghue, S. O'Donoghue, T. O'Donoghue, J. O'Faherty, S. O'Farrell, E. O'Flynn, N. & C. O'Gorman, J. O'Halloran, D. O'Keefe, J. O'Keefe, M. O'Keefe, C. O'Keeffe, C. O'Mahony, D. O'Mahony, D. O'Mahony, E. O'Malley, N. O'Malley, N. O'Muiri, C. O'Neill, G. O'Regan, M. O'Regan, C. Osthoff, D. O'Sullivan, M. O'Sullivan, M. O'Sullivan, O. O'Sullivan, P. O'Sullivan, J. Palmer, J. Parkin, R. Peelo, C. Peppiatt, B. Phalan, P. Phillips, G. Phipps, D. Pochin Mould, C. Pollock, B. Porter, G. Power, F. & P. Prendergast, R. Price, A. Prole, P. Proudfoot, M. Purser, P. Quinn, N. Raftery, N. Reddy, M. Reid, P. Reynolds, T. Roderick, G. Rogan, B. Rooney, H. Rothwell, S. Roy, D. Ryan, M. Ryan, P. Ryan, D. Scannell, F. Scholand, S. Schvartzman, L. Scott, J. & E. Scully, C. Seale, J. Shannon, N. Sharkey, B. Sharpe, J. Sheehan, L. Shelley, R. Sheppard, C. Shiel, M. Shorten, P. Smiddy, S. Smith, M. Souter, A. Speer, S. Stapleton, R. Steed, R. Stephens, B. Strickland, P. Strickland, W. Stringer, N. Stronach, D. Strong, C. Studdert, D. Suddaby, E. Sweeney, E. Sweeney, E. Sweetman, M. Talbot, T. Tarpey, R. Teesdale, M. ten Cate, K. Thompson, R. Thompson, E. Traynor, F. Turpin, A. Ui Dhubhshlaine, P. Vaughan, B. Wall, A. Walsh, C. Walsh, D. Walsh, P. Walsh, N. Warnock, D. Watson, A. Webb, G. Webb, G. Weyman, B. Wheel, G. Wheeler, J. Whelehan, R. Wills, C. Wilson, F. Wilson, F. Wolstenholme, W. Woodrow, J. Wray, M. Wright, P. Wrobel. 10

13 References Anon National Forestry Inventory Republic of Ireland. Forest Service, Wexford, Ireland. Connolly, J., N. M. Holden and S. M. Ward Mapping peatlands in Ireland using a rule-based methodology and digital data. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 71, Coombes, R. H., O. Crowe, L. Lysaght, J. O Halloran, O. O Sullivan and H. J. Wilson Countryside Bird Survey Report, BirdWatch Ireland, Dublin. Coombes, R. H., O. Crowe, A. Lauder, L. Lysaght, C. O'Brien, J. O Halloran, O. O Sullivan, T. D. Tierney, A. Walsh and H. J. Wilson Countryside Bird Survey BirdWatch Ireland Unpublished Report. Crick, H.Q.P A bird-habitat coding system for use in Britain and Ireland incorporating aspects of land management and human activity. Bird Study 39, Crowe, O., R. H. Coombes, L. Lysaght, C. O Brien, K. R. Choudhury, A. J. Walsh, H. J. Wilson and J. O Halloran Population trends of widespread breeding birds in the Republic of Ireland Bird Study 57, Department of Agriculture and Food Compendium of Irish Agricultural Statistics Department of Agriculture and Food, Dublin, Ireland. Donald, P. F., G. Pisano, M. D. Rayment and D. J. Pain The Common Agricultural Policy, EU enlargement and the conservation of Europe s farmland birds. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 89, Gibbons, D. W., J. B. Reid and R. A. Chapman The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: T. & A. D. Poyser, London. Joys, A.C., Noble, D.G. & Baillie, S.R Evaluation of species coverage and precision using the BBS indexing method. BTO Research Report No Thetford, UK. Krebs, J. R., J. D. Wilson, R. B. Bradbury and G. M. Siriwardena The second silent spring? Nature 400, Lynas P., S. F. Newton & J. A. Robinson The status of birds in Ireland: an analysis of conservation concern Irish Birds 8, Met Éireann Monthly Weather Bulletin No Glasnevin Hill, Dublin 9. Met Éireann. 2010a. Monthly Weather Bulletin No Glasnevin Hill, Dublin 9. Met Éireann. 2010b. Monthly Weather Bulletin No Glasnevin Hill, Dublin 9. Met Éireann The weather of winter 2011/2012. Glasnevin Hill, Dublin 9. Pannekoek, J. & van Strien, A. J TRIM Trends & Indices for Monitoring Data. Research Paper No. 9634, Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg. Risely, K., A. R. Renwick, D. Dadam, M. A. Eaton, A. Johnston, S. R. Baillie, A. J. Musgrove and D. G. Noble The Breeding Bird Survey BTO Research Report 597. British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford. Sharrock, J. T. R The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. Poyser, Berkhamsted. Wren is the most widespread, and is among the most numerous species recorded during the CBS Michael Finn

14 Appendices Appendix 1 List of all bird species regularly recorded during the CBS Mute Swan Cygnus olor Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Teal Anas crecca Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Shoveler Anas clypeata Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Buzzard Buteo buteo Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Peregrine Falco peregrinus Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis Gannet Sula bassana Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Coot Fulica atra Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Snipe Gallinago gallinago Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Curlew Numenius arquata Redshank Tringa totanus Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Turnstone Arenaria interpres Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Common Gull Larus canus Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Herring Gull Larus argentatus Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis Common Tern Sterna hirundo Feral Pigeon Columba livia Stock Dove Columba oenas Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Swift Apus apus Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Skylark Alauda arvensis Sand Martin Riparia riparia Swallow Hirundo rustica House Martin Delichon urbica Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Rock Pipit Anthus spinoletta littoralis Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba Dipper Cinclus cinclus Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Dunnock Prunalla modularis Robin Erithacus rubecula Stonechat Saxicola torquata Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Blackbird Turdus merula Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Whitethroat Sylvia communis Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Goldcrest Regulus regulus Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Great Tit Parus major Coal Tit Periparus ater Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Jay Garrulus glandarius Magpie Pica pica Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Jackdaw Corvus monedula Rook Corvus frugilegus Hooded Crow Corvus corone cornix Raven Corvus corax Starling Sturnus vulgaris House Sparrow Passer domesticus Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Greenfinch Chloris chloris Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Siskin Carduelis spinus Linnet Carduelis cannabina Redpoll Carduelis flammea Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus Appendix 2 Survey design, field methods & analyses The CBS is based on a random stratified approach. The Republic was divided into eight regions, and 10 km squares (based on the Irish National Grid) were randomly selected within each, and allocated in sequence. For each 10 km square selected, the 1 km square at the extreme southwest corner is surveyed. Those with less than 50% land, e.g. coastal areas or lake shores, have been excluded, leaving some 700 possible survey squares. The 12 survey aims to achieve coverage of the same 1 km squares each year, ideally by the same observer, although there is likely to be some changeover of survey participants. The ideal survey route within each 1 km square comprises two parallel lines, each 1 km in length about 500 m apart and about 250 m from the edge of the square. For practical reasons there is often deviation from the ideal route. Each 1 km transect is divided into five 200 m sections, at which level all information is collected. Three visits to each survey square per year are undertaken. During a reconnaissance visit, the transect routes are planned and habitat information recorded. Habitat data are recorded using codes from an established hierarchical system common to a range of bird surveys in the UK (Crick 1992). Bird counts are undertaken on the second and third visits. The total numbers of adult birds of each species detected in each 1 km square were calculated for each year. The maximum of the two counts (from early and late visits) was used as the annual measure of relative abundance for each species. Annual population indices were calculated using TRIM (Trends & Indices for Monitoring Data), a program used for

15 Appendices the analysis of time series of counts with missing observations (Pannekoek and van Strien 1996). Counts are modelled as a function of square (site) and year effects, with interpolated estimates for site-year combinations with missing data. The stratified sampling design results in unequal representation of regions across Ireland, so annual counts were weighted by the inverse of the proportion of the area of each region that was surveyed that year. Population trends for species occurring on a mean of 30 or more squares over the duration of the survey were estimated by examining the overall rate of annual change, as caution is urged because of the low precision associated with sample sizes smaller than 30 (Joys et al. 2003). It was expected that there would be greater consistency in trends within regions when compared to overall national level given the narrower range of factors impacting on bird populations at a finer regional level. Therefore, and as in the UK (Risely et al. 2009), the minimum sample size was reduced from 30 to 20 squares for regional analyses. Population change is usually displayed in the form of indices, where the results from one season are set to some arbitrary figure, usually 1 or 100, and index values are calculated for all other seasons according to how each relates to the base season. A constant rate of decline is exponential when illustrated. For example, if a population is declining by 50% each year, then if the initial index is 1, the index at timepoint 2 is 0.5, at timepoint 3 is If the population doubles each year, the index values for Laura Nuttall the respective timepoints are 2, 4 and 8. Index values are thus measures of relative abundance for a species, and usually the relationship between this and the absolute abundance is unknown. The mean annual change was estimated by fitting a regression line through the data. Appendix 3 Species that have been occasionally recorded during the CBS Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons flavirostris Greylag Goose Anser anser Canada Goose Branta canadensis Brent Goose Branta bernicla hrota Wigeon Anas penelope Pintail Anas acuta Shoveler Anas clypeata Common Scoter Melanitta nigra Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Goosander Mergus merganser Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Grey Partridge Perdix perdix Quail Coturnix coturnix Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata Great Northern Diver Gavia immer Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis Little Egret Egretta garzetta Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Merlin Falco columbarius Corncrake Crex crex Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Sanderling Calidris alba Knot Calidris canutus Dunlin Calidris alpina Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Greenshank Tringa nebularia Turnstone Arenaria interpres Great Skua Stercorarius skua Meditteranean Gull Larus melanocephalus Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Little Tern Sterna albifrons Guillemot Uria aalge Razorbill Alca torda Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle Rock Dove Columba livia Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur Barn Owl Tyto alba Long-eared Owl Asio otus Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Redwing Turdus iliacus Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix Carrion Crow Corvus corone corone Brambling Fringilla montifringilla Twite Carduelis flavirostris Crossbill Loxia curvirostra 13

16 A CBS fieldworker along the Upper Barrow River