When close up is too close — who's the worst culprit for invading wild birds' space?

It is illegal to disturb and/or photograph nesting birds without a licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Service

People frequently get much too close to nesting birds at seabird colonies around the Irish coast. Picture: Debs Allbrook

More people than ever are taking to the outdoors to get a look at wildlife. That can be a good thing... but there are boundaries to be observed too. Sometimes, humans go too near, with negative impacts on these creatures.

Many of us will be out and about during the August bank holiday, and the following weeks, so a message from Birdwatch Ireland is apposite.

It concerns seabirds, some of which are still nesting. For instance, gannets, which arrive in early spring and then pair up for breeding, don’t leave for warmer climes until the autumn when their chicks are ready to fledge and fly.

Brian Burke, senior seabird conservation officer with Birdwatch, pleads with people not to peek into nests. Some, including photographers, come too close which can result in birds fleeing nests and the death of chicks: “A lot of people don’t realise that it’s actually illegal to disturb and/or photograph nesting birds without a licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Service."

A study by University College Cork researcher, Debs Allbrook, found that gannets nesting on the edge of the Great Saltee Island colony, in Wexford, which were disturbed, had the lowest success rate in the number of chicks fledging.

It was photographers who ventured closest, to an average distance of 2.5metres, with regular tourists coming to within 4.5m and birdwatchers 8m.

Ms Allbrook had a sign erected asking people to stay back from nests. After that, all groups stayed at least 5m way, with the exception of 11 photographers.

A sign has been erected on Great Saltee, based on Debs Allbrook’s research, to encourage best behaviour near the nesting Gannets. Picture: Debs Allbrook

“Our precious seabirds are suffering severe declines, with loss of critical habitat and plummeting fish stocks cited to explain falling numbers. Disturbance is just one more factor in the list, but is actually the thing we can do most about," she notes.

By approaching nests and leaving flattened grass, or bushes moved aside, people can also tip off potential predators like magpies, or foxes. Furthermore, chicks may be frightened into leaving nests too soon, thereby reducing their survival chances.

Cork is one of the best places for seabird-watching, with a large number of species like gulls, shearwaters and godwits to be seen. Galley Head, Cape Clear, Dursey Island, and the Rosscarbery Estuary are among several popular locations.

Not too far away, the Skellig islands, in Kerry, are internationally-famous for their gannets, puffins and guillemots, among other species, while not forgetting the Blasket islands.

Let’s leave the parting words to Brian Burke: “Take the chance to enjoy the birds around you. Visit a seabird colony this summer, and takes lots of photos. But be sure to keep your distance from the birds and their nests."