BirdWatch Ireland is one of nine partners in a coalition led by RSPB NI to draw down €20m over the next four years to deliver PeacePlus Nature – an ambitious programme to tackle the decline in priority species and habitats in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. BirdWatch Ireland’s main focus in the project will be the protection and conservation of breeding waders, particularly at sites in Co. Donegal. This follows on from the work undertaken in previous Interreg projects – the Halting Environmental Loss Project (HELP, 2011-2014) and the Cooperating Across Borders for Biodiversity (CABB) Project (2017-2022).
Since 2011, BirdWatch Ireland has been active in protecting these sites – as well as undertaking surveys and monitoring, we have worked with farmers to increase their knowledge and understanding of breeding waders, supported small scale habitat works and arguably most importantly, installed a network of Predator Exclusion Fences (PEFs) across Donegal. These fences exclude mammalian predators such as foxes, badger and small mustelids from breeding colonies, comprising a physical barrier with electrified wires incorporated into the design. The fences are located at Sheskinmore in south Donegal, where BirdWatch Ireland owns part of the land enclosed, Magheragallon in Gaoth Dobhair, Rinmore on the Fanad peninsula, Long Point at Inch, where NPWS lease the land, and at nearby Blanket Nook.
Predator fence at Rinmore, Co Donegal
Our monitoring of breeding wader populations during the CABB project showed that, despite these interventions, across 37 sites in Donegal and Sligo, there was a 12% decline overall from 443 breeding pairs to 390 between 2017 and 2021. This highlights the multiple threats faced by breeding waders and the huge challenges we face to protect them. The main driver of declines is frequently predation, but disturbance, agricultural intensification, wind energy and afforestation can all have negative impacts on breeding waders and their habitats.
Lapwing at Inch (Michael Bell)
However, our monitoring also showed that the presence of a predator fence had a significant positive effect, particularly on Lapwing populations, with some fence sites seeing population increases during the period. This is a great endorsement of the work involved in installing and maintaining these fences – they are one of the few effective tools we have to protect and restore populations. Our results indicate the need to continue to focus on reducing predation, whilst also working to address other issues such as ensuring favourable habitat conditions.
PeacePlus Nature will build on our success and knowledge gained from HELP and CABB, whilst also taking on some new challenges. Our main areas of work over the next four years will be: –
1. Management of our network of predator fences to continue to protect and enhance breeding waders at key sites.
We will be replacing and upgrading two of the oldest PEFs at Magheragallon and Rinmore, installed in 2012/13, to make them even more effective. (NPWS are working with the Breeding Wader EIP to replace the fence at Sheskinmore). We will also continue to monitor the fences every week during the breeding season to ensure they are fully operational.
Checking electric current at predator fence
We will employ a Conservation Keeper to undertake predator control, particularly to control corvids in the vicinity of the fence sites. The Keeper will work with the existing network of keepers employed by NPWS and other projects, such as the Breeding Wader EIP, Life on Machair and Corncrake Life, to ensure synergies of effort.
2. Wardening and management on Tory Island.
Tory Island is the most important site for breeding waders in the north west of Ireland, still supporting over 100 pairs and being the only site in the network to support breeding Dunlin, with about 4 breeding pairs annually. Thanks to support from Donegal County Council through the NPWS Local Biodiversity Action Fund, we were able to continue monitoring breeding waders on Tory after CABB finished in 2022; in 2024, we recorded 125 pairs, down from 172 in 2017. Predation and disturbance are likely to be the main causes. We will be employing a Warden for the island, who will work to better understand the factors affecting breeding success, ensure there is management of predators and work with the island community to reduce the impacts of recreation and disturbance.
Breeding dunlin on Tory Island (Micheal Bell)
3. Monitoring of populations
We will continue to monitor key sites every year, particularly the island sites and sites with PEFs, including monitoring of Lapwing productivity. This will help us identify successful outcomes and also areas where more intervention is needed. In 2028, we will undertake a full census of all 35 sites which we have been monitoring through HELP and CABB.
Lapwing chick within a predator fence (Michael Bell)
4. Stakeholder engagement
We will be engaging closely with the other stakeholders who are working towards the protection and management of breeding waders in the north west. We will continue to work closely with NPWS – the predator fence at Long Point is on NPWS-leased land, and NPWS will be replacing the fence at Sheskinmore, which is partly on BirdWatch Ireland land. We will continue to liaise with the Breeding Wader EIP and Life on Machair to ensure synergies of effort and conservation delivery. We are already partners with Donegal Acres, which works with farmers and advisors in the Donegal Cooperation Projects (CP) area on behalf of DAFM. For some farmers, we will be able to undertake small scale works to improve habitats.
Project Partners
As well at the Lead Partner – RSPB NI and BirdWatch Ireland, the other project partners include Butterfly Conservation, Monaghan County Council, River Blackwater Catchment Trust, Truagh Development Association, Lough Neagh Partnership, NI Water and An Taisce. These partners will be working together, learning from each other and sharing best practice on an exciting range of projects to restore priority habitats such as upland blanket bog and lowland wet grassland and priority species, including breeding waders, chough, corncrake, marsh fritillary and other species.
We are very much looking forward to getting started on this ambitious programme of work in the coming months – we have much to do to get everything ready for the 2026 breeding season and beyond. There will be regular project updates as we go and we look forward to sharing our success with our members and supporters.
PeacePlus Nature is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
PEACEPLUS is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the UK and Irish Governments.
Thanks to Donegal County Council and NPWS for funding the maintenance and monitoring of predator fences in Co. Donegal 2023-2025, through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund.
