A Common Tern, which was ringed in Dublin Port earlier this year, has been recorded in Kartong Bird Observatory in the Gambia – a distance of over 4,575 km as it flies.
The arrival in the Gambia was confirmed on October 14th, according to Birdwatch Ireland's latest newsletter.
A report by Rhys Gadd said that it is another highlight of the Dublin Bay Birds Project, which monitors one of Ireland’s most important breeding colonies of Terns in Dublin Port.
“As part of this work, we aim to ring every chick that hatches within the port. This work is essential to understanding the demography and migratory patterns of these remarkable seabirds — from their post-breeding movements and long-distance migrations to where and when they return to breed, whether back at Dublin Port or at other colonies across the Irish Sea and beyond,” Gadd writes.
“ We have also put an increased focus on measuring adult survival rates, which we can combine with nesting numbers and breeding success to get a broader view of the population. With increased pressures facing the terns such as climate change, declines in fish stocks and offshore development, this level of insight is very important,” he says.
“Each year brings a few standout stories from the field, and this season has been no exception,” he says.
Map highlighting the distance travelled of a fledgling Common Tern, from Dublin Port to Cadíz, Spain Source: Birdwatch Ireland
“During recent mist net trapping at Sandymount Strand….we had a rare and exciting encounter: a tern that was first ringed in Senegal,” Gadd writes.
“Resightings like this are uncommon, but they reveal the extraordinary connectivity between Ireland and the west coast of Africa, shedding light on the vast journeys these birds undertake and the landscapes they rely on along the way,”he says.
Map highlighting the distance travelled of a fledgling Common Tern, from Dublin Port to Kartong Bird Observatory, The Gambia Source: Birdwatch Ireland
