Photograph: PAA third of Ireland’s wintering waterbirds have disappeared in the last 30 years, an extensive new study shows. Numbers of some species of the migratory ducks, geese, swans, waders and gulls that come from colder countries are down more than 50 per cent. The most dramatic decline is in the population of Bewick’s Swan which comes from as far away as western Siberia to escape the frozen winters in Ireland’s warmer climate. However, loss of habitat, disturbance by people, avian flu, hunting and collisions with infrastructure are all playing a part in the falling numbers of waterbirds generally. “Ireland’s waterbirds are in trouble,” said Helen Boland, manager of the Irish Wetland Bird Survey which is carried out annually by BirdWatch Ireland for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), with the help of more than 1,200 volunteers.

Source: The Irish Times February 02, 2026 12:03 UTC