What’s involved?

I-WeBS counters record waterbirds at wetland sites across the country during the winter ‘non-breeding’ season (September to March). The type of wetlands surveyed range from wet grasslands to large complex estuaries that hold thousands of birds, and everything in between. We’re always in need of new counters, so if you’d like to get involved and help monitor your local waterbirds, see ‘Get involved in I-WeBS’ below.

Why do we count waterbirds?

Hundreds of thousands of waterbirds spent the winter in Ireland, relying on our wetlands to feed and rest. Most of these birds spend the summer nesting in arctic regions (e.g. Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, Siberia) but fly south in the autumn as their breeding grounds freeze over. As Irish wetlands are so important for their survival, these wild birds and the habitats they rely on are protected by national and EU legislation. And so, I-WeBS exists to keep track of how these birds are faring. With this knowledge, informed conservation action can be taken.

How is the data used?

The I-WeBS database holds detailed information on waterbirds from across Ireland over the last 25 years. This important information lets us know how each species is faring, what sites are most important for them, and examine changes over time so that appropriate protection and conservation actions can be put in place. The I-WeBS dataset is also used to evaluate potential impacts of local developments, inform national policy that may impact wetlands and waterbirds, and facilitate high-level research on topics such as climate change.