Seabird gps tracking studies to inform the Conservation Management of SPAs along the West Coast of Ireland

Tender description

Ireland is obliged to classify the most suitable territories in number and size as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for the conservation of regularly occurring migratory birds and those listed on Annex I to Directive 2009/147/EC. Effective conservation management of such areas requires a sufficient level of contemporary data on the focal bird populations as well as an understanding the pressures and threats likely to be of most relevance to such populations. Telemetry studies are an increasingly important tool in the study of marine bird ecology and can be of significant importance in the identification of important foraging areas and other areas relevant to the conservation management of such species. Recent tracking work on breeding Shag on Inishmurray SPA, Co Sligo indicates that this population may travel relatively far distances to feed along mainland coasts however small sample sizes limits our understanding of the key foraging areas for this population. Magharee Islands SPA is listed for several breeding seabird species including Shag and several tern species. Our knowledge of the foraging areas ecologically connected with this SPA is limited. NPWS are seeking a suitably qualified and experienced team of two to three persons to conduct a gps tracking study of seabirds at Inishmurray SPA and Magharee Islands SPA this breeding season.