Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2023
208. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an update of the numbers of species in Cork harbour that would be considered important bird area (IBA) triggers has been done, given the original study was in 1995 and that it would allow for information on the success of conservation efforts. [9433/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraCork Harbour is one of over 100 Irish sites that are part of BirdLife International’s list of Important Bird Areas (IBA); six species were listed for Cork Harbour IBA: Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit; Bar-tailed Godwit; Curlew; Redshank; and Common Tern. Cork Harbour is also classified, by way of Statutory Instrument 391 of 2021, as a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive. The boundaries of the IBA and SPA overlap and the list of Special Conservation Interests for the SPA includes these six bird species, among others.
The wintering waterbirds of Cork Harbour are monitored through the Irish Wetland Bird Survey which is Ireland's programme for monitoring population trends of wintering waterbirds and the habitats they use. The IWEBS sites, including Cork Harbour, are monitored annually and the data for Cork Harbour is readily accessible via the I-WeBS online form (irishwetlandbirdsurvey.ie/)
