1st Irish Sea Tern Network Meeting

The first-ever meeting of the Irish Sea Tern Network took place in Bangor on 17-18 October supported by the Roseate Tern LIFE Project. We had almost 50 participants from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, England, North Wales and the Isle of Man.
 
This was a truly powerful networking event, with statutory agencies from all countries, NGOs, voluntary organisations and individuals attending. We convened in the spirit of collaboration based on growing evidence that the same birds use different sites within and between years all around the Irish Sea. It was therefore prudent to meet fellow site managers and experts to exchange experience in tackling similar issues such as predation control, habitat management and research and monitoring. We also gained an overview of all the colonies around the Irish Sea and discussed how the network could be utilised to improve collaboration.

Leigh Lock of the RSPB presenting during the conference (c) Daniel Piec

​Graham White and Gavin Thomas from the RSPB gave an overview of the latest developments in terrestrial predator control and fencing solutions used by the organisation. Karen Varnham and Tessa Coledale talked about practical aspects of biosecurity monitoring on islands and presented the aspirations of the Biosecurity for LIFE Project.
 
Jen Smart from the RSPB started the Avian Predation Session with a presentation on diversional feeding and a trial on effectiveness of agrilasers in deferring avian predators. Steve Newton (BirdWatch Ireland) and Ian Sims (RSPB) presented case studies from Rockabill, the Skerries and Ynys Feurig, followed by Chris Redfern from Natural History Society of Northumbria who provided results of the gull predation study from Coquet Island. 

Martin Perrow (ECON) talking about the foraging ecology of terns (c) Chantal Macleod-Nolan

Highly anticipated session on research and monitoring started with Martin Perrow (ECON) telling us about results of Sandwich, Arctic and roseate terns visual tracking around breeding colonies. We had also two excellent presentations from Henry Cook (North Wales Wildlife Trust) on post-breeding dispersal of Sandwich tern chicks around the Irish Sea and between colony movements of little terns presented by David Norman (Merseyside Ringing Group). Chris Redfern presented results of geolocator tracking of Arctic and roseate terns.
 
Leigh Lock presented the results of the RSPB's Sustainable Shore study and opportunities for habitat creation through managed realignment and beneficial use of dredging. Daniel Piec provide more specific examples of habitat work undertaken as part of the LIFE project, followed by a Hodbarrow case study presented by Dave Blackledge (RSPB). The session finished with two presentations on artificial structures for common terns from Shotton and Preston Docks presented by Peter Coffey (Merseyside Ringing Group) and Paul Ellis (Fylde Bird Club) respectively. 

Matthew Murphy (NRW) presenting a Welsh tern colony overview (c) Chantal Macleod-Nolan

​In the final session from before the discussion panel, Neil McColloch (NIEA), Steven Newton (BirdWatch), Matthew Murphy (NRW), Bart Donato (NE) and David Wright (DEFA, Isle of Man Government) presented overviews of tern colonies from their respective countries.
 
Although there was no appetite for formalising the network into a partnership, we identified a few areas of collaboration such as testing simple management interventions on multiple sites, continue colour-ringing and reading (especially to check where birds go after stochastic events) and look into potential impacts of offshore wind developments on forage fish.
 
It was agreed that the next meeting will be in two years, most likely in Dublin. However, many participants will no doubt visit each other sites next year and come to the final LIFE project seminar in September. 

Irish Seas Tern Network Meeting attendees (c) Chantal Macleod-Nolan