Ocean Research & Conservation Association of Ireland

Seabirds

Gulls, Terns, Auks, Petrels, Tube-nosed seabirds in Irish waters.

Seabirds

As part of the ORCA IRELAND's work to identify important marine areas, an analysis of seabirds in Irish waters is currently being undertaken to examine distributions of 31 seabird species at sea through opportunistic surveys on-board whale watch vessels.

It is also important to monitor population parameters, such as adult survival rates, diet, rate of food-delivery to chicks, or growth-rates of chicks.

Understanding of seabirds abundance and distribution in Irish waters is lacking, in comparison to our knowledge of marine mammals. In 1979 the European Commission adopted the Birds Directive which, amongst other conservation measures, requires Member States to classify protected habitats for birds listed on Annex I to the Directive and for regularly occurring migratory species.