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President's News
Ornithology Conference at UCC explores the ecology and conservation of birds
The ecology and conservation of birds were the focus of a national conference hosted by President John O'Halloran at UCC this weekend. Academic researchers, conservation scientists, policymakers and members of the public came together to share knowledge and expertise at the 8th Irish Ornithological Research Conference, which took place over the weekend.
This conference takes place every five years at UCC and provides significant opportunities at national level for reviewing current research activity in the area of avian ecology and conservation. The primary goal of these conferences is to inform avian policy and practice and improve the future for Irish bird populations.
The conference this year was attended by more than 200 delegates and focussed on ecology and conservation, waders, wildfowl and seabirds. The event included presentations and discussion of the use of aerial surveys to study the Storm Petrel at sea, the use of satellite tags to study the population biology of the Hen Harrier, the genetics of the Irish Coal Tit – a subspecies believed to be unique to Ireland - and also the genetics of Irish Red Grouse. Importantly, this event included presentations of long-term data sets which will identify trends in bird species numbers over time. These should identify, among other things, the impacts of landuse and climate change, as Birdwatch Ireland celebrates the 25th and 30th anniversaries of the Countryside Bird Survey (CBS) and the Irish Wetland Bird Survey (iWEBS) and respectively.
All scientific research abstracts from this event have been compiled in a Book of Abstracts which is available at https://www.ucc.ie/en/corc2023/boa/. They will also be published in the next issue of Irish Birds, the scientific journal of BirdWatch Ireland. During the event Atkins environmental consultants sponsored awards for best oral and poster presentations by students. Keynote Addresses were delivered by Pat Smiddy on the Birds of County Cork; David Cabot on The population dynamics of an Arctic Breeding Goose; Sinead Cummins on ornithological research, survey and monitoring by NPWS; and Killian Mullarney on 50 years of bird identification.
The first in this series of conferences was held in 1985 – also at UCC - and was founded by then PhD student, Professor John O’Halloran, now President of UCC. Commenting, Professor O’Halloran said “our country and planet are facing the dual impact of climate crisis and habitat loss which has having an impact on all animals and plants and this conference provides the evidence that citizen science, NGOs, state and Universities can work together to not only to mitigate these impacts but also protect our planet but to enhance it ”
Professor John O'Halloran, President of UCC, makes a presentation to Keynote Speaker Pat Smiddy, author of The Birds of County Cork