Dalkey Islands from Coliemore Habour (Photo by Karen Varnham)
Location:
There are five islands/islets in the Dalkey Island group. At 11.2 ha, Dalkey Island is the largest of the islands and lies approx. 300 m off Sorento Point, separated from the mainland by Dalkey Sound. The islands are a public park, owned by DLR. Lamb Island lies to the north of Dalkey Island and can be accessed on foot at low tide across seaweed-covered rocks.
Lamb is the only one of the five smaller islands, which has terrestrial vegetation. It has a flat-topped summit with a mixture of bare rock, short grass vegetation and taller common nettle, Urtica dioica, and slender and/or creeping thistle, Carduus tenuiflorus.
Clare Island lies north of Lamb Island but is little more than a rock breaking the surface at high tide.
Maiden Rock lies furthest north and is a dome of exposed granite with a flattish southeast aspect. During easterly storms coinciding with high tides, both Maiden Rock and Clare Island have been over-washed by storm waves. Lamb Island is high enough to prevent it from being washed out during storms.
The fifth island is Muglins, with a small lighthouse, and this lies several hundred metres to the east of the others.
Satellite View of Dalkey Islands (Photo by Googles Maps)
Breeding Bird Species:
A small tern colony has been present on the Dalkey complex for many years. The majority of breeding activity has typically been found on Maiden Rock, the most northerly of the islands. Until three years ago, most of the terns breeding at the islands were Common Terns, Sterna hirundo, with 15 – 54 pairs recorded prior to 1988 (Coombes 1988; Butler & Newton 2017). Over the last three years Arctic Terns, Sterna paradisaea, have been the most common tern species present at the site (Butler & Newton 2017).
Roseate Terns, Sterna dougalli, have bred on the island but in low numbers. The first record of Roseate Terns breeding on the island was in 1986, when two pairs were observed neither of which unfortunately was successful (Coombes 1988). Conservation measures have been in place since 1997 in order to encourage Roseate Terns to nest at the site. The first successful breeding pair was recorded in 2002. The peak number of Roseate Tern pairs breeding on the island was 11 in 2004, with one pair the norm in recent years (S. Newton, pers. obs.).
A small tern colony has been present on the Dalkey complex for many years. The majority of breeding activity has typically been found on Maiden Rock, the most northerly of the islands. Until three years ago, most of the terns breeding at the islands were Common Terns, Sterna hirundo, with 15 – 54 pairs recorded prior to 1988 (Coombes 1988; Butler & Newton 2017). Over the last three years Arctic Terns, Sterna paradisaea, have been the most common tern species present at the site (Butler & Newton 2017).
Roseate Terns, Sterna dougalli, have bred on the island but in low numbers. The first record of Roseate Terns breeding on the island was in 1986, when two pairs were observed neither of which unfortunately was successful (Coombes 1988). Conservation measures have been in place since 1997 in order to encourage Roseate Terns to nest at the site. The first successful breeding pair was recorded in 2002. The peak number of Roseate Tern pairs breeding on the island was 11 in 2004, with one pair the norm in recent years (S. Newton, pers. obs.).
Adding shingle, tern decoys and nest boxes to Maiden Rock (Photo by Niall Hatch)
Partnership:
A Dalkey Island Tern Project has been in operation since 1995 and EU INTERREG funding was provided in 1997, 1998 and 1999 for the project. The funding was used to employ a part time warden, to purchase equipment and signage and gain access to the islands. However, the project has often relied on volunteers drawn from BirdWatch Ireland staff and the South Dublin Branch members. Funding has been provided over the last three years which has enabled a part time warden to be employed, signage to be erected and work undertaken on the islands. The main funding has been allocated as part of the EU LIFE Roseate Tern Recovery Project. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLR) has also provided some match-funding for the project and equipment.
Presence of the LIFE Project:
With the added funding, the Project is to improve the nesting conditions for terns on the islands of Dalkey, Lamb and Maiden Rock. This includes assessing the presence and location of rat activity on the islands and subsequently implementing a rat eradication or control programme. Annually preparing the islands by deploying nest boxes and gravel substrate onto the islands. With the funding, a tern warden has been employed to manage and monitor the site as well as raise awareness to the public through engaging with weekly Tern watches.
A Dalkey Island Tern Project has been in operation since 1995 and EU INTERREG funding was provided in 1997, 1998 and 1999 for the project. The funding was used to employ a part time warden, to purchase equipment and signage and gain access to the islands. However, the project has often relied on volunteers drawn from BirdWatch Ireland staff and the South Dublin Branch members. Funding has been provided over the last three years which has enabled a part time warden to be employed, signage to be erected and work undertaken on the islands. The main funding has been allocated as part of the EU LIFE Roseate Tern Recovery Project. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLR) has also provided some match-funding for the project and equipment.
Presence of the LIFE Project:
With the added funding, the Project is to improve the nesting conditions for terns on the islands of Dalkey, Lamb and Maiden Rock. This includes assessing the presence and location of rat activity on the islands and subsequently implementing a rat eradication or control programme. Annually preparing the islands by deploying nest boxes and gravel substrate onto the islands. With the funding, a tern warden has been employed to manage and monitor the site as well as raise awareness to the public through engaging with weekly Tern watches.
Marking an Arctic Tern nest (Photo by Andrew Butler)
Nest Boxes on Lamb Island (Photo by Andrew Butler)
Bibliography:
Adcock, T. and Newton, S.F. 2018. Dalkey Islands Tern Report 2018. BirdWatch Ireland Seabird Conservation Report.
LIFE (2015) LIFE Nature and Biodiversity Technical Applications Forms. Part A - Administrative information. EU LIFE Roseate Tern Recovery Project
Adcock, T. and Newton, S.F. 2018. Dalkey Islands Tern Report 2018. BirdWatch Ireland Seabird Conservation Report.
LIFE (2015) LIFE Nature and Biodiversity Technical Applications Forms. Part A - Administrative information. EU LIFE Roseate Tern Recovery Project