Washed-up birds may have starved
Thursday September 14 2006
Rangers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service are carrying out tests on the remains found at beaches from Dundalk to Arklow. The birds are mainly guillemots, although razorbills and cormorants have also been found.
Niall Hatch from BirdWatch Ireland said it appeared many of the dead birds were extremely emaciated and may have starved to death. So far, there is no indication pollution was a factor.
"I've been speaking to a wildlife ranger in Wexford and all the ones they have collected so far there are from the same species - guillemots. They all appear to be juvenilles from this year's brood."
He suspects that these birds were the result of a slightly later breeding season than normal. When the fledglings left their nests and went out to the Irish Sea to search for food, they were confronted by very rough seas and were unable to feed.
