Record Year on Rockabill

The island of Rockabill, off the coast of Skerries in north Co. Dublin, is home to Europe’s largest colony of Roseate Terns, amongst the continent’s rarest breeding seabirds.  The Rockabill colony has long been the subject of one of our most important and intensive conservation projects, given its global importance.

We are delighted that the 2007 season proved to be the most successful yet, with a total of 820 Roseate Tern nests recorded.  In addition, records totals of Common Tern nests (1,411) and Arctic Tern nests (209) were also recorded on the island, and a total of 842 Roseate, 1,039 Common and 33 Arctic Tern chicks were ringed.

Dr. Stephen Newton, BirdWatch Ireland’s Senior Seabird Conservation Officer, is very happy with the Roseate Terns’ success.  “Despite a few problems with the weather this summer, the season went very well and we are delighted that numbers of this beautiful seabird are continuing to increase.  Much credit is due to our wardens this year, Joanna Hulsman and Nicola Reddy, whose dedication and hard work have really paid off.  The fact that the breeding numbers of the other tern species, as well as of Black Guillemots and Kittiwakes, are also up is a real bonus.  The Black Guillemot nesting boxes that were very kindly produced for us by the students of Balbriggan Community College have given that species a real boost on Rockabill.”

To download a summary of BirdWatch Ireland’s report on the 2007 season on Rockabill in PDF format, please click here.