Introduction

This report presents site trends based on the data gathered by the Irish Wetland Bird Survey (I-WeBS). Only species with sufficient data at Boyne Estuary (site code 0Z402) are presented.

This report is part of the I-WeBS National and Site Trends Report 1994/95 – 2019/20.

For guidance on how to interpret these trends, please see the I-WeBS Trends Report Guidance.

For details on the methods used to generate these trends, please see the I-WeBS Trends Report Methodology.

Site Summary

Trend (%)
Species Boyne Estuary - 5 Year Boyne Estuary - 12 Year Boyne Estuary - 23 Year Long Term Trend
Turnstone -35.8 -74.9 -82.1 Large Decline
Lapwing 14.1 -43.2 -63.3 Large Decline
Golden Plover -36.2 -72.0 -61.4 Large Decline
Ringed Plover -63.5 -67.1 -58.9 Large Decline
Red-breasted Merganser -1.7 100.0 -57.9 Large Decline
Grey Plover -78.6 -70.1 -54.3 Large Decline
Bar-tailed Godwit -71.9 -15.9 -51.9 Large Decline
Grey Heron -38.6 -46.6 -45.7 Moderate Decline
Mallard -47.4 -45.8 -45.5 Moderate Decline
Mute Swan -68.6 -56.3 -37.9 Moderate Decline
Wigeon -2.0 -6.5 -23.7 Intermediate Decline
Dunlin -19.5 -34.8 -20.8 Intermediate Decline
Curlew 32.8 -18.2 -19.0 Intermediate Decline
Oystercatcher -22.6 -37.4 -18.0 Intermediate Decline
Little Grebe -32.6 -43.9 -17.9 Intermediate Decline
Cormorant 17.6 -26.6 -0.8 Stable or Increasing
Redshank 4.3 -9.0 1.7 Stable or Increasing
Knot 52.8 -17.3 14.1 Stable or Increasing
Sanderling -67.8 -63.9 16.9 Stable or Increasing
Shelduck -10.7 -16.8 17.5 Stable or Increasing
Black-tailed Godwit 12.8 34.7 29.3 Stable or Increasing
Greenshank -12.8 25.0 33.9 Stable or Increasing
Light-bellied Brent Goose -35.7 -41.3 80.5 Stable or Increasing
Teal -40.1 25.8 143.5 Stable or Increasing
Little Egret 2.3 78.0 1383.3 Stable or Increasing

Species Analysis

Light-bellied Brent Goose

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -35.7 -41.3 80.5
National -11.2 1.2 93.3

Mute Swan

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -68.6 -56.3 -37.9
National 4.6 9.6 13.8

Shelduck

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -10.7 -16.8 17.5
National 6.3 -0.8 9.3

Wigeon

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -2.0 -6.5 -23.7
National 0.9 -17.0 -18.2

Mallard

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -47.4 -45.8 -45.5
National -11.3 -19.7 -19.1

Teal

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -40.1 25.8 143.5
National 1.8 5.7 19.4

Red-breasted Merganser

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -1.7 100.0 -57.9
National -12.9 5.2 -14.7

Little Grebe

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -32.6 -43.9 -17.9
National 6.1 16.7 38.2

Oystercatcher

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -22.6 -37.4 -18.0
National -17.5 -31.1 10.8

Lapwing

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary 14.1 -43.2 -63.3
National -6.5 -45.1 -63.9

Golden Plover

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -36.2 -72.0 -61.4
National -16.9 -58.1 -54.1

Grey Plover

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -78.6 -70.1 -54.3
National -30.6 -39.4 -57.8

Ringed Plover

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -63.5 -67.1 -58.9
National -4.3 -26.8 -1.1

Curlew

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary 32.8 -18.2 -19.0
National -9.4 -23.7 -43.1

Bar-tailed Godwit

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -71.9 -15.9 -51.9
National -32.6 -13.9 -5.1

Black-tailed Godwit

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary 12.8 34.7 29.3
National 22.5 25.0 92.3

Turnstone

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -35.8 -74.9 -82.1
National -33.6 -46.0 -23.7

Knot

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary 52.8 -17.3 14.1
National 0.0 -12.2 -9.8

Sanderling

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -67.8 -63.9 16.9
National -23.8 -11.1 84.6

Dunlin

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -19.5 -34.8 -20.8
National 5.9 -21.2 -45.2

Redshank

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary 4.3 -9.0 1.7
National -14.0 -28.4 6.7

Greenshank

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -12.8 25.0 33.9
National 0.9 7.3 41.0

Cormorant

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary 17.6 -26.6 -0.8
National 38.5 8.4 42.9

Grey Heron

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary -38.6 -46.6 -45.7
National 1.0 -4.9 6.6

Little Egret

Trend (%)
Site 5 Year 12 Year 23 Year
Boyne Estuary 2.3 78.0 1383.3
National 34.6 61.5 483.3

Citations

Please cite this work as follows:

Kennedy, J., Burke, B., Fitzgerald, N., Kelly, S.B.A., Walsh, A.J. & Lewis, L.J. 2022. Irish Wetland Bird Survey: I-WeBS National and Site Trends Report 1994/95 – 2019/20. BirdWatch Ireland Waterbird Report to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. BirdWatch Ireland, Wicklow. (https://birdwatchireland.ie/app/uploads/2022/04/iwebs_trends_report.html)