Events

Date: March 4, 2025
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: The Strand (back lounge) K56 D722
Light pollution is increasing worldwide at up to 10% per year and changes in lighting technology have led to the increasing use of blue-rich LED lighting. Research shows that light pollution has an impact on a wide range of species from plants to humans and may be as important as climate change in its impacts. In Ireland, light increased by ≈ 60% in the two decades to 2015 and now pervades most of the country with impacts from the dawn chorus to reproduction. In this talk the growth of light pollution on Ireland, its impact on birdlife from coastal to inland areas and some measures to reduce its impact will be outlined. Brian Espey is an astrophysicist who has been involved in light pollution research since 2009 using a combination of satellite and ground-based observations. He was involved in the setting up of Mayo Dark Sky Park and in developing and protecting other dark sky locations. Brian is currently chairperson of Dark Sky Ireland (https://www.darksky.ie) and actively campaigns for a reduction in the harmful effects of light at night through a combination of public outreach and engagement with both local and national authorities and organisations. Recent successes have been the adoption of dark sky friendly policies and the commitment to expand protected dark sky areas in the Programme for Government. For contact: Frank Prendergast (sec) 087 131 9884, frank.prendergast@tudublin.ie Paul Lynch (chair) 087 631 9209, paulllynch@gmail.com

Date: March 1, 2025
Time: 11:15 am
Location: Meet at Kilkenny Castle gates at 10am for carpooling or 11.15am next to Centra, Killinick on the Rosslare Road Y35 FKP5
Our Kilkenny branch invite you to join them for an Outing to Lady's Island and Tacumshin Co Wexford Tacumshin Lake is a coastal lagoon annexed as a priority habitat in the EU Habitats Directive. The area is a haven for wildfowl and wading birds and is one of the most important ornithological sites in Ireland. For contact: Find us on Facebook Richard Dwyer (sec) birdwatchkilkenny@gmail.com Pat and Mary Durkin – patandmarydurkin@gmail.com Ian McCullagh – ianrmccullagh@gmail.com

Date: February 22, 2025
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Meet outside the Spirit Store in Dundalk Port
The outing on Saturday 22nd February 2025 is to Dundalk Port and Carlingford, and along the coast to Clogherhead and we will be meeting at Dundalk Port near the Spirit Store at 10.00 AM. and fingers crossed for the weather. Birds we hope to see include Spotted Redshank and Ruff along with many other waders and wildfowl at Dundalk Port and Carlingford and the plan will be to finish at Clogherhead.

Date: February 19, 2025
Time: 7:45 pm
Location: Auditorium, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin
This talk by Rosena McShane will detail the birds seen in Georgia in the snowy Caucasus Mountains and near the border with Azerbaijan on a birdwatching trip organised by the esteemed late Tolka Branch Chairperson, Dermot McCabe, with Batumi Birding. The talk starts at 19:45 and the car park is available and free, and doors and car park open at 19:30.

Date: February 16, 2025
Time: 9:00 am
Location: Met at Cartron Carpark
Our Sligo branch invite you to join them for an outing to Inch Wildfowl Reserve, Burt, Co Donegal Each year Inch Wildfowl Reserve is host to thousands of wintering wildfowl. This includes over three thousand Greylag geese and hundreds of whooper swans. The site is also alive during the summer months as a wide variety of birds, including a particularly noisy colony of sandwich tern and black headed gulls, raise their young around the lake. The site includes an 8km looped path, 3 carparks and a number of purpose built bird hides. Contact details below; Thelma Hunter (Sec) – 086 795 3349 sligobirdwatch@gmail.com Michael Bell (Chair) – 085 175 1000 nature.learn1@gmail.com

Date: February 15, 2025
Time: 10:30 am
Location: Meet at the Railway gates
Our Kildare branch invite you to join them for a trip to the East Coast Nature Reserve in Newcastle, Co Wicklow. Officially opened in 2009, the East Coast Nature Reserve is our largest reserve covering 92ha. It forms part of the extensive Murrough Wetlands, an important coastal wetland complex which is designated as a Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation. For contact: Find us on Facebook (@bwikildare) – birdwatchkildare@gmail.com Chairman: Neil J Bourke Tom McCormack (events)