Biography

Professor Cabot was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA and educated at Dartington Hall School, Devon, England. He attended University College, Oxford (1957-58) and completed his BA and MA at Trinity College, Dublin (1959-63). Following this, he completed his PhD at University College, Galway (1963-67). In 2019, he was awarded Honorary Doctor of Science Sc.D. by Trinity College, Dublin. 

• 2005-current: Writer, lecturer and ornithological researcher
• 1995-2004: Consultant to Ministries of Environment, Eastern Europe
• 1990-1994: Special advisor on environmental affairs to two Taoisigh
• 1988-1990: Ecological Consultant, Documentary Film Producer and Radio/TV Presenter (RTE/BBC)
• 1969-1988: Ecologist preparing the National Heritage Inventory and Environmental Impact Assessments at the National Institute for Physical Planning and Construction Research, Dublin
• 1969-1988: Establishment of Conservation and Amenity Advisory Services to Irish Local Authorities

Research Interests

Population dynamics of Barnacle Geese, Cormorants, and Fulmars.

Publications

Redmond, C., Cabot, D., et al. (in press) A rule-based framework for inferring mortality and incubation-like events in Arctic geese using multi-sensor telemetry. Journal of Avian Biology

McGregor, Dodd, S.G., Cabot, D., Lindley, P.J. and Taylor, R.C. (in prep) Great Cormorants from the Ynys Seiriol/Puffin Island SPA disperse across Wales, Britain and Western Europe.

Cabot, D. (2026) Species accounts for the Northern Fulmar, Great Cormorant and the Barnacle Goose. The Birds of Ireland. (Ed. Smiddy, P.). Cambridge University Press.

Phillips, K.P., Guilfoyle, C., ... Cabot, D., et al. (2025) Foraging behaviour of nesting Grey Herons inferred from PIT-tagged salmonid fish. Ardea 113: 91-102. 

Percival, S., Bowler, J., Cabot, D., et al. (2024) Spatial and temporal variations in mortality from avian influenza in Greenland Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis in the wintering grounds. Bird Study 71: 404-411. 

Darby, J. H., Clairbaux, M.,  ... Cabot, D., et al. (2023) Decadal increase in vessel interactions by a scavenging pelagic seabird across the North Atlantic. Current Biology 33: 4225-4231. 

Doyle, S., Cabot, D., et al. (2023) Home range of a long-distance migrant, the Greenland Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis, throughout the annual cycle. Bird Study 70: 37-46. 

Redmond, C., Cabot, D., Doyle, S., and McMahon, B. (2023) Exploring determinants of breeding success in the Greenland Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis. Wildfowl 73: 64-79.

Nisbet, I., Cabot, D., and Partridge, K. (2022) Overland Flights of terns and Consequent High Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Northwest France in the 1970s. Waterbirds 45: 345-349.

Doyle, S., Cabot, D., et al. (2021) Moulting season corticosterone correlates with winter season bodyweight in an Arctic migrant bird. Ibis 163: 113-124.

Doyle, S., Cabot, D., et al. (2021) Spring and autumn movements of an Arctic bird in relation to temperature and primary production. Journal of Avian Biology 52: e02830.

Darby, J., de Grissac, S., ... Cabot, D., et al. (2021)  Foraging distribution of breeding northern fulmars is predicted by commercial fisheries. Marine Ecology Progress Series 679: 181-194.

Doyle, S., Cabot, D., et al. (2020) Temperature and precipitation at migratory grounds influence demographic trends of an Arctic-breeding goose. Global Change Biology 26: 5447-5458. 

Tucker M.A., Alexandrou O., ... Cabot, D., et al. (2019) Large bird travel farther in homogeneous environments. Global Ecol. Biogeogr. 28: 576-587.

Cabot, D. and Goodwillie, R. (2018) The Burren: a natural history. HarperCollins, London. New Naturalist Series. Volume 139. pp. 1-485.

Wang, K., Cao, L., ... Cabot, D., et al. (in press 2018). The green wave hypothesis partially explains migration of avian herbivores.

Cordes, L.S., Hedworth, H., Cabot, D., M. and Thompson, P.M. (2015) Parallel declines in survival of adult Northern Fulmars Fulmaris glacialis at colonies in Scotland and Ireland. Ibis 157: 631-636. 

Murray, T & Cabot, D. (2015) The Breeding Status of the Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo in County Wexford. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 34: 89-94.

Kölzsch, A., Bauer, S., ... Cabot, D., et al. (2015) Forecasting spring from afar? Timing of migration and predictability of phenology along different migration routes of an avian herbivore. Journal of Animal Ecology 84: 272-283. 

Boer, R.de., Silke, B., ... Cabot, D., et al. (2014) Een vergelijking van de voorjaarstrek van drie populaties Brandganzen met behulp van GPS-satellietzenders. Limosa 87: 99-106.

Shariatinajafabadi, M., Wang, T., ... Cabot, D. (2014) Migratory Herbivorous Waterfowl Track Satellite-Derived Green Wave Index. PLoS ONE 9: e108331. 

Safi, K., Kranstauber, B., ... Cabot, D., et al. (2013) Flying with the wind: scale dependency of speed and direction measurements in modelling wind support in avian flight. Movement Ecology 1:4. 

Cabot, D. and Nesbit, I. (2013) Terns. HarperCollins, London. pp 1-461.

Cabot, D. (2009) Wildfowl. HarperCollins, London. pp 1-460.

Cabot, D. (2004) Irish Birds. HarperCollins, London. 244pp. Third edition. 

Cabot, D. (1999) Ireland: A Natural History. Collins, London. pp 1-512.

Ogilvie, M.A., Boertmann, Cabot, D., et al. Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis: Greenland. In: Madsen, J., Cracknell, G., and Fox, A.D. (eds). Goose Populations in the Western Palearctic. A Review of Status and Distribution. Wetlands International Publication No. 48, Wageningen, The Netherlands. National Environmental Research Institute, Ronde, Denmark. pp 246-256.

Cabot, D. (1996) Performance of the Roseate tern Population Breeding in North-West Europe – Ireland, Britain and France – 1960-94. Proceedings Royal Irish Academy 96B: 55-68.

Cabot, D., and West, B. (1961) Studies on the Population of Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis Wintering on the Inishkea Islands, Co. Mayo. 1: Population dynamics 1983: 318-336.

Cabot, D. (1977) Movements and Migrations of the Mallard in Ireland. Irish Birds 1: 37-45.

West, B., Cabot, D., and Greer-Walker, M. (1975) The food of the Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo, at some breeding colonies in Ireland. Proceedings Royal Irish Academy 75B: 285-305.

Cabot, D. (1975) Feather Lice (Mallophaga) collected from birds in Galway Bay, Co. Galway. Irish Naturalists Journal 18: 145-150.

Cabot, D. and West, B. (1973) Population Dynamics of Barnacle Geese, Branta leucopsis, in Ireland. Proceedings Royal Irish Academy 73B: 416-443.

Cabot, D. (1969) Helminth Parasites from Charadriiform Birds at Galway Bay, Co. Galway. Proceedings Royal Irish Academy 68B: 149-159.

Cabot, D. (1965) The Status and Distribution of the Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax (L.) in Ireland 1960-65. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 15: 95-100.

Cabot, D. (1963) Barnacle Geese in Ireland. Wildfowl Trust 14th Annual Report 1961-1962. 104-106.

Professional Activity

Outreach Activities

Collaboration with:

• University College Dublin (Barnacle Geese) – on going
• National Parks and Wildlife Service (Barnacle Geese) – on going
• Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (Barnacle Geese – satellite tracking)

News

• Seeking occasional hardy volunteers to assist with the study of the population dynamics of barnacle geese on the Inishkea Islands, Co. Mayo. 

Barnacle goose being released after being caught by cannon net on the Inishkea Islands, Co. Mayo. Photograph by Christian Glahder (Denmark) March 2015: L to R- David Cabot, Maurice Cassidy and Alyn Walsh