Northern Ireland Seabird Report 2024

The report includes detailed information about the population trends and breeding success of seabirds in Northern Ireland, over the 2024 breeding season. Monitoring reports for Strangford Lough and the Outer Ards are included, as well as several additional contributor articles.

Acknowledgements

This report is the published outcome of the work of the Northern Ireland Seabird Network of participants, overseen by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).

As always, at the core of the Seabird Network in Northern Ireland is our surveyors. Some work for government bodies such as NIEA, and others on behalf of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Ulster Wildlife and the National Trust. All are important contributors through the provision of data for 2024 and previous years and provide advice and guidance from their expert staff. We are grateful for their co-operation and assistance.

Many other surveyors are volunteers who give their time freely to help. The amount and quality of work undertaken by volunteers in Northern Ireland is exemplary, and we are fortunate that many enthusiastic and talented people are part of the Northern Ireland Seabird Network.

We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this report. Huge thanks also go to NIEA for their continued financial support for both the Seabird Coordinator role and for the production of this annual report.