Coastal breeding bird. With over 21,000 birds, Great Saltee island, off County Wexford holds one of the largest populations. The Cliffs of Moher, in Co. Clare hold over 19,000 birds. Other places include Loop Head in Co. Clare, with over 5,000 birds, and Horn Head, in County Donegal with over 6,500 birds. Numerous smaller colonies occur around the Ireland, especially on the west coast. Can also be seen on Irelands Eye and Howth Head, County Dublin.
Guillemot
Irish Name: | Foracha |
Scientific name: | Uria aalge |
Bird Family: | Auks |
Conservation status
Status
Resident, though occur inshore/ land during the breeding season, March/April to August/September.
Identification
The commonest species of Auk in Ireland, a highly marine species which are only found on land in the breeding season. A dark brown and white seabird, brown above and white below, with a distinct breeding plumage. In the breeding season head and neck completely dark brown, in the winter white on front of the neck and face. At a distance can be confused with Razorbill. Guillemot has a longer body, browner upperparts with less white on the side of the body and a lighter bill. Shows a darker 'armpit' than Razorbill. Seen flying in lines close to the sea with Razorbills.
Voice
Vocal in colonies with birds giving repeated nasal notes and prolonged bellowing. The young on the sea also give a high-pitched call after leaving the breeding colony.
Diet
Mainly small fish, some invertebrates, caught by surface diving.
Breeding
Comes ashore to nest from May onwards, colonies deserted by the first week in August. Nests on cliff ledges, often in large colonies, defends the smallest nest territory, sometimes only 5cm square. Restricted to cliffs with suitable ledges. Lays egg directly on to rock.
Wintering
Winters at sea. Some Irish birds are believed to winter near their breeding sites.
Monitored by
Breeding seabirds are monitored through seabird surveys carried out every 15-20 years.
Blog posts about this bird
Embracing our maritime heritage this National Heritage Week
Victims of east coast oil spill are a stark reminder of the urgent need to plan ahead
Oiled Guillemot on Wicklow Beach. Photo: BirdWatch Ireland.
Acutely aware of these dangers, we knew we had to act fast. Finding the birds wasn’t a problem, as reports of oiled birds, primarily Guillemots, came flooding in from both responders and the public. However, catching them was a slightly trickier task that required great skill, patience and care. Rescuers had to take care not to spook the birds and drive them back into the water. Guarding their own safety was also crucial, with all responders suiting up in PPE to protect themselves from the likely carcinogenic substance. Approximately 140 birds were retrieved, but this represents only a fraction of the birds affected, as it’s likely that many multiples of that number perished far offshore, never to be found. Those that were rescued may have been the so-called “lucky ones”, but they still had an extremely trying journey ahead. The rehabilitation process is both lengthy and complex, with each bird having to pass a number of veterinary examinations before it can go through the washing process. The washing procedure can last up to 45-minutes and is quite a stressful experience for a bird so it is crucial that they are in good condition before it begins. Once the washing process was complete, each bird remained in care at KWR, where they were closely monitored until they were deemed fit for release.Oiled Guillemot at Kildare Wildlife Rescue. Photo: Kildare Wildlife Rescue.
Several of these birds were successfully released at a beach in County Wicklow recently, three weeks after they were rescued. Many others will surely follow but sadly, there will be others too weak to withstand this anthropogenic disaster. As a member of the Oiled Wildlife Response Network (OWRN), BirdWatch Ireland has been calling for the establishment of a formal national oiled wildlife response plan for many years. No words can convey the urgency of this better than the distressing images of oil-slicked seabirds fighting for their lives on Ireland’s beaches. The recent spill should serve as a warning signal for our leaders. It’s not a matter of if, but when, another similar disaster will occur and we need to do all we can to ensure we’re ready.