Sex ratio survey of Wicklow wildfowl

THE Chairperson of the Wicklow branch of BirdWatch Ireland, Joe Lennon, spent a busy day at the East Coast Nature Reserve in Newcastle last week.

He was conducting a sex ratio survey of wildfowl present on the reserve for the Duck Specialist Group. These counts are being carried out across Europe during the month of January.

As many duck populations in the Western Palearctic are undergoing rapid changes in distribution and numbers, and relatively little is known about their population demography, it was decided it would be advantageous to reinvigorate the routine collection of sex ratio data across Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia.

The Wicklow branch of BirdWatch Ireland will host a talk in the Glenview Hotel on Tuesday, February 13 at 8 p.m.. The speaker will soon be confirmed.

The annual Wicklow County Bird Race also takes place in February, either on Saturday February 10 or 17. Get in touch if you would like to take part.