Since 1986, seabird populations in the UK and Ireland have been monitored through the Seabird Monitoring Programme coordinated on behalf of partnership organisations by JNCC. Sample data on breeding abundance and breeding success of seabirds are collected from a large network of sites, both regionally and nationally, to enable species’ conservation status to be assessed. To examine trends at individual colonies, at country level and across the whole UK, it is essential that individual sites can be monitored consistently for many years. Data on breeding abundance – the number of breeding pairs or individuals – provide a medium to long term measure of how populations are faring. Data on breeding success/productivity – the number of chicks fledged per breeding pair – are regarded as short term or more immediate measure of population status. Studies at four key sites (Isle of May, Canna, Fair Isle and Skomer) provide information on adult survival, diet, phenology used to help to diagnose the changes in abundance. Additional information on survival rates at other sites is collected through the BTO’s Retrapping for Adult Survival (RAS) scheme (Horswill et al. 2016), although there are no current RAS sites in Northern Ireland. The SMP generates annual indices of abundance and breeding success from these data which are expressed as a percentage of the population recorded at sites in 1986 when standardised monitoring began (JNCC 2016). Where possible trends are given at the scale of the UK or country level, but where coverage is only possible at individual sites, the indices are shown at the site level. The SMP is a vital programme for monitoring seabird population trends between the full national censuses.

This is the fourth edition of the Northern Ireland Seabird Report, covering 2016. This report is the published outcome of the work of the BTO NI Seabird Coordinator, and the activities of the evolving Northern Ireland Seabird Network of volunteers and organisations, such as National Trust, Ulster Wildlife and the RSPB, that have provided data for 2016 and previous years. This 2016 report on breeding seabirds in Northern Ireland is like the preceding reports. We have kept the detail from previous years, even where data have changed little since our last report. It is important that this report represents a summary of current species knowledge, and that reference to other, earlier, reports is not necessary. In this approach we are taking a similar stance to JNCC and their online Seabird Monitoring Programme (SMP) report and this is doubtless the best way to present such a report. As in previous years several articles have been submitted for inclusion in the report. These articles provide further detail on the monitoring in Northern Ireland, and highlight some of the exciting seabird research being undertaken. We are very grateful to the authors for giving their time to produce these articles. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this report and, additionally, encourage more people to join the Seabird Network. Naturally, a summary such as this does not report all data but all records collected are of real value in understanding our local seabirds. The report is only as robust as the data we are aware of, so if you have seabird population data, either recent or historic, then please share it with us, and JNCC, for the benefit of seabirds in Northern Ireland.

This is the third edition of the Northern Ireland Seabird Report, covering 2015. This report is the published outcome of the work of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Seabird Coordinator, appointed in February 2013, and the activities of the evolving Northern Ireland Seabird Network of volunteers, and organisations such as National Trust, Ulster Wildlife and the RSPB that have provided data for 2015 and previous years. The report on breeding seabirds in Northern Ireland during 2015 presented here is similar to 2013 and 2014. We have kept the detail from previous years, even where data have changed little since our last report. It is important that this report represents a summary of current species knowledge, and that reference to other, earlier, reports is not necessary. In this we are taking a similar stance to JNCC and their online SMP report and this is doubtless the best way to present such a report. As in previous years a number of articles have been submitted for inclusion in the Northern Ireland Seabird Report. These articles provide further detail on the monitoring in Northern Ireland, and highlight some of the exciting seabird research being undertaken. We are very grateful to the authors for giving their time to produce these articles.

This is the second edition of the Northern Ireland Seabird Report, covering 2014. This report is the published outcome of the work of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Seabird Co-ordinator, appointed in February 2013, and the activities of the evolving Northern Ireland Seabird Network of volunteers, and organisations such as National Trust, Ulster Wildlife and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) that have provided data for 2014 and previous years. Interest in Northern Ireland’s marine environment continues to grow. The process of designating Marine Conservation Zones in Northern Ireland waters is ongoing, and there is considerable effort being put into consideration of a number of SPA extensions. Despite the recent withdrawal of proposals for the development of an offshore wind farm off the Co. Down coast, there are many other developments being considered in Northern Ireland’s marine environment. Designations and planning consents all require high quality marine biodiversity data of various types, including for birds. At the core of the Seabird Network in Northern Ireland are our surveyors. Some work for Government bodies such as NIEA, while others survey on behalf of NGOs such as RSPB, Ulster Wildlife and the National Trust. We are grateful for their co-operation and assistance. Many other surveyors are volunteers who give up their time freely to help, simply because of a love and admiration of these bird species. The amount and quality of work that can be undertaken by volunteers is amazing and in 2014 we were fortunate that many new and enthusiastic people joined the already talented Seabird Network. The Seabird Network now numbers 60 people, a great achievement when there were only 20 people in Northern Ireland surveying seabirds just two years ago. The report on breeding seabirds in Northern Ireland during 2014 presented here is similar to 2013. We have kept the detail from previous years, even where data have changed little since our last report. It is important that this report represents a summary of current species knowledge, and that reference to other, earlier, reports is not necessary. In this we are taking a similar stance to JNCC and their online SMP report and this is doubtless the best way to present such a report.

This is the first edition of the Northern Ireland Seabird Report, covering 2013, a report we plan to publish annually. This report is the published outcome of the work of the BTO Seabird Co-ordinator, appointed in February 2013, and the activities of the evolving NI Seabird Network of volunteers, and organisations such as National Trust, Ulster Wildlife and RSPB that have provided data for 2013 and previous years. The Co-ordinator, the Network and this report are, in part, a response to the huge increase in our society’s interest in the marine environment. Legislatively there is the EU’s Marine Strategic Framework Directive (MSFD), and the local instrument that transposes the MSFD regulations, the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013. This includes powers to designate Marine Conservation Zones as part of a coherent MPA (Marine Protected Area) network. The implied spatial planning and designations require high quality marine biodiversity data of various types, including for birds. Monitoring, and any further designations, of our SPA (Special Protected Area) network also require high quality bird data. Added to this is a hugely increased interest in offshore commercial development, particularly energy related developments. There is a large offshore wind farm proposed east of the Lecale coast, two tidal energy proposals off the northeast Antrim coast, and proposals to investigate oil and gas resources in Belfast Lough, Larne Lough and near Rathlin. Two energy storage proposals near Larne just add to this mix of proposed marine developments. Finally, there is our increasing societal awareness of climate change and the impacts it may have: increasing seawater temperatures, changing acidity, increased storminess and thus turbidity, and many other associated changes. The work of the Northern Ireland Seabird Network in gathering robust seabird population data is a vital component in this context. The data in this report, and from future surveying, will underpin marine conservation policy-making and action planning in Northern Ireland.