Welcome to the Fingal branch of Birdwatch Ireland
The Fingal Branch is run by a small committee of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about the conservation of wild birds and their habitat in the Fingal area. The Branch formed in 1985 when Rogerstown estuary came under threat of the development of a large landfill site.
We maintain two hides at Rogerstown estuary. See our Hides & Sites page for more details.
About Fingal
Fingal is situated in North Co. Dublin and can boast of great birding spots for the beginner and experienced birder alike. Fingal extends from the outer limits of Dublin city to Meath in the North and to the West.
Due to its location on the east coast there is a good variety of coastal habitat to be found including beaches, cliffs, islands and estuaries as well as agricultural land, woodland etc.. Rockabill Island off the coast from Skerries holds one of Europe's largest breeding colonies of Roseate Terns while during the winter months Rogerstown Estuary holds internationally important numbers of Pale-bellied Brent Geese, along with a further 10 species of wintering waterfowl in nationally important numbers, including Wigeon and Black-tailed Godwit.
I-Webs
Ireland Wetland Bird Survey (I-Webs) counts of Rogerstown Estuary The birds of Fingal's estuaries and coast line are counted once a month between September and March as part of I-WeBS. The counts have to be coordinated to provide accurate numbers as birds frequently move from one area to another. For Rogerstown a team of counters meet up and are given a section of the estuary to count. The numbers and then correlated and passed onto the I-WeBS office. The results are published annually and are used to track population trends over time.
If you would like to get involved or if you have any queries, please contact Helen at the I-WeBS Office, email bwifingal@gmail.com or simply turn up on the day. New volunteers are always needed and will be trained by our experienced counters.
Meet at Turvey Nature Park car park on Turvey Avenue
BWI Membership
As a voluntary organisation, the financial support we receive from our members is vital if we are to be able to continue our bird and habitat conservation work, keep working with schools and teachers and create and manage nature reserves. By becoming a member today, you can help us in our work and make a real difference to wildlife in Ireland For more details and an application form click the link below.
Fundraising and Donations
We rely on the support of the public to finance our activities, such as the maintenance of the hides at Rogerstown and running the Little Tern and Lapwing projects.
Every donation, however large or small, is important to us and helps us to protect Fingal's birds and biodiversity and in particular our work with Little Terns at Portrane and our hides at Rogerstown. Thank you for your support.
Events
We host a series of indoor and outdoor events throughout the year. Click the button below for more details. These events are open to the public and free of charge with an option to make a small donation at the end. We regularly support joint events with organisations such Fingal County Council, local schools, tidy town groups and other societies, giving talks or walks.