Targeted surveys of select river catchments to determine the breeding status of Kingfisher(1202_KFBS23)

Tender description

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for the conservation of natural habitats and species and the protection of biological diversity in Ireland. A 2010 survey of Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis (more commonly referred to as Kingfisher) was undertaken to identify the most suitable territories (a representative set of river corridors used by Kingfisher i.e. low-lying rivers) for the conservation of Kingfisher (Cummins et al. 2010) and covered six river systems, namely the Barrow, Blackwater (Munster region), Boyne, Clare, Moy and Nore (all designated as Special Areas of Conservation). On foot of that survey, The River Boyne and River Blackwater SPA (Co.s Cavan, Louth, Meath and Westmeath) and the River Nore SPA (Co.s Kilkenny, Co. Laois) were classified as SPAs for this Annex I-listed species (EU Birds Directive 2009/147/EC). Periodic censuses of breeding Kingfisher at a suite of representative sites will provide the necessary evidence base for reporting (Article 12) as well as supporting the conservation management of breeding Kingfisher both within protected sites (e.g. Special Protection Areas or SPAs) and in the wider countryside. The Kingfisher is currently green-listed under Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland (Gilbert et al. 2021). In 2019, Article 12 reporting under the Birds Directive reported the following pressures and threats for Kingfisher: agricultural activities, forestry activities, invasive alien species and problematic native species. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage now invites tenders for provision of external services for coordination and delivery of surveys of select river catchments to determine the breeding status of Kingfisher. The survey results will help inform future assessment of the breeding status of Kingfisher in Ireland, and information collected through this survey will allow an assessment of population change for t