Clare County Council’s Biodiversity Office and Birdwatch Ireland are partnering to undertake a coastal survey for nesting Chough along a 30km stretch of coastline from Kilkee to Loop Head in West Clare.
The project is funded by Clare County Council’s Biodiversity Office and the Council’s Tourism Development Department.
The Chough is a member of the Crow family, predominantly associated with coastal locations, sea cliffs and a variety of other habitats for nesting and foraging. The Chough has a red bill and red legs and an unmistakable call. In Ireland, Chough have been recorded feeding in a variety of habitats, such as improved grasslands and cultivated land. Chough primarily hunt for insects on or near the surface of soil or animal dung.
Their slim curved bill is an excellent tool for probing and cutting soil and flicking stones aside in search of prey. The bird feeds on a variety of insects, such as ants, spiders, worms, and cranefly larvae (leatherjackets). Many farmers along the coast are familiar with this bird and Birdwatch Ireland and Clare County Council’s Biodiversity Officer are appealing for records of breeding activity and Chough nest sites in this area.
Chough is listed on Annex I of the EU Birds Directive. Their historic decline is linked to persecution, land-use change through intensification or abandonment which leads to a loss of foraging habitat. Disturbance is another pressure that is impacting on the life cycle of the species. The National Chough Survey 2021 reported a population size of at least 900 pairs.
The largest concentrations of pairs were recorded in counties Cork and Kerry, which held circa 54% of the breeding population. The 2021 census survey focused on Special Protection Areas (SPA) where the species is a Special Conservation Interest and found that declines in the breeding population are most apparent in some areas of the north of the country and in the west (County Clare). The Cliffs of Moher SPA has seen a decline in the breeding population since the 2002/2003 census survey.
The field surveys will be carried out by Birdwatch Ireland between April and June of this year. The survey will involve a walked transect to record breeding activity and nesting pairs and vantage point surveys to help locate nests. The survey hopes to establish the size of the local breeding population and inform future conservation actions for them. Suitable locations for Chough nest boxes will be recommended, if needed, to help conserve the local population.
Barry O’Loughlin, Clare County Council’s Biodiversity Officer said, “We do not know the current conservation status of the breeding population along the cliff coastline from Kilkee to Loop Head as this area has not been surveyed on a large scale in several decades. We are appealing to farmers, landowners and members of the public at this early stage for any records of nest sites or breeding activity along this stretch of coastline and up to 1km inland from the coast. Chough can nest on coastal cliffs in caves or in cattle sheds, haybarns or derelict cottages and farmers may be aware of local nest sites.”
Kathryn Finney, Birdwatch Ireland and Project Manager said, “Chough are an iconic and well liked coastal farmland bird. By establishing their breeding population and working alongside farmers to identify or provide suitable nesting sites we can help safeguard their future in this area.”
Members of the public can report Chough nest sites by filling out the short online survey form by emailing BirdWatch Ireland.
You can also phone Clare County Council’s Biodiversity Officer through Clare County Council’s switch board on 065 68 21616.
