Appeal for your Summer Bird Sightings

BirdWatch Ireland is appealing to people across Ireland to send in their summer bird sightings to help with a landmark project, The Bird Atlas 2007-11.

Every sighting you send in from a Robin nesting in your garden shed to a Cuckoo calling on your local bog will really help to fill in the gaps on the species maps to ensure that your local area is well covered for the Atlas.

We are appealing for records of all bird species common and rare alike, but in particular records of declining or more difficult to find  species such as Cuckoo, Spotted Flycatcher, Jay, warblers, waders, Golden Plover, Nightjar, Yellowhammer, Red Grouse,  Treecreeper, Quail, Kingfisher, Woodcock, Chough, breeding seabirds, breeding duck and all birds of prey will be particularly useful.

In addition to the bird record any breeding information or 'breeding evidence' as it's known, will greatly enhance the value of the record. The type of evidence would include a singing male, a pair of birds, a nest with eggs, or recently fledged young. A full list of the breeding evidence codes is available from www.birdatlas.net or contact Brian for the list.

There are several easy ways to submit your records:

Enter them online to the Atlas website as Roving Records (www.birdatlas.net)
Enter them on a paper Roving Records form (download from www.birdatlas.net or contact Brian)
Send them in an e-mail (e-mail below)
Write a letter with your sightings and detailed locations (address below)

Brian Caffrey, The Irish Atlas Coordinator said "Thanks to the tremendous efforts of a dedicated band of Atlas volunteers across Ireland we are now well on our way to producing a fantastic Atlas that we can all be proud of. Now is your chance to play your part by sending in your bird sightings from this summer".


Brian Caffrey
Irish Atlas Coordinator


BirdWatch Ireland
Midlands Office | Crank House | Banagher | Co. Offaly |  Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)5791 51676 email: bcaffrey@birdwatchireland.ie