Read about the plight of Ireland`s Twite in

SPECIES FOCUS
Twite at Raghly Point,
Co Sligo. – Mark Carmody
Twite
Carduelis flavirostris
Derek McLoughlin reports
The Twite has a fascinating disjunct global range with one population
occurring here in northwestern Europe and a second population
over 2,500km away in eastern Turkey,Tibet and western China. It is
said to be the only Tibetan faunal element to occur in Ireland. This
separation most likely happened at the time of the last glaciation
some 10,000 years ago.
About 100 years ago, Twite had been recorded in all
Irish counties except those of the midlands.
However, by 1970, the first breeding atlas shows that
populations had become largely confined to the
extremes of the western seaboard, from Donegal to
Kerry. A further decline of over 50% was noted in
the 1988-1991 Breeding Atlas. These declines gave
rise to its inclusion in the Red Data Book, where its
conservation status was listed as ‘indeterminate.’
Breeding populations
Today, probably less than 100 pairs of Twite breed
in Ireland. North Mayo and west Donegal form the
breeding strongholds, accounting for up to 85% of
the estimated Irish population. Small breeding
populations also occur in west Kerry, northwest
Galway, north Donegal and along the north Antrim
coast.
Mainly due to its ‘little brown job’ appearance and
the isolated areas where it occurs, historical data on
Irish Twite demographics has been sparse and largely
anecdotal. As a result, it is difficult to determine the
current population trend; however, a continuing
decline seems apparent.
WINGS SUMMER 2010
Winter populations
Although winter populations vary largely from
year to year, the estimated Irish winter population is
thought to be in the region of 1,000 birds.
Winter populations of Twite are found near their
breeding colonies. The largest of these winter
populations occurs in the strongholds of north Co
Mayo and west Co Donegal. Over 300 birds winter on
the Mullet peninsula, Co Mayo, with over 100
wintering near Sheskinmore National Nature
Reserve, Co Donegal. Although many of these birds
comprise local breeders, there is evidence of Twite
that bred on the western isles of Scotland amongst
them. It is most likely that the flocks that appear
along the east and north coasts of Ireland also
originate in the western isles.
Nesting
Nesting habitat for Twite in Ireland comprises
good quality long heather and occasionally bracken.
Irish nest sites are almost invariably situated close to
the top of wild, north-facing sea-cliffs. Interestingly,
many of the colonies in Ireland are found near
Peregrine nest sites. As the Twite, at just 13g weight,
The Twite is one of only three
passerine species to appear on the
red list of Birds of Conservation
Concern in Ireland (BoCCI). It is
also included in the Irish Red Data
Book of endangered species.With
an apparently declining population,
it is currently at risk of extinction
as a breeding species in Ireland.
does not offer an appetising meal for Peregrines or
for other potential predators such as Hooded Crows
and Ravens, this seems to offer a degree of
protection for the nesting Twite.
The nest site they choose tends to be within 2-3
kilometres of extensively farmed holdings (i.e. those
farmed at low intensity using traditional mixed
farming methods) and particularly those with
species-rich pastures, small weedy roads and
roadside verges, saltmarshes and some disturbed
ground.
Foraging
Twite target the seed of a wide variety of plant
species during the breeding season, depending on
their availability, and particularly: Dandelion, Annual
Meadow Grass, Common Sorrel, Common
Chickweed and Sea Plantain. Freshwater streams
provide an important habitat for bathing, drinking
and picking up grit.
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Twite foraging at
Raghly Point, Co Sligo.
– Mícheál Casey
In England and Scotland, Twite show a similar
preference for meadows that were rich in seeding
wildflowers and avoidance of reseeded pasture and
freshly cut fields.
Movement patterns
Twite in Ireland remain in their breeding areas
from late April to September or October and
generally overwinter within a 30km radius. Colourringing studies (including those I carried out as part
of my research into Twite in 2005-2009, funded by
the National Parks and Wildlife Service) have shown
that some Scottish breeding birds also winter here.
Two such examples of movements between Ireland
and Scotland are of a bird that was ringed at
Termoncarragh in April 2007, which was resighted
during the following breeding season on Islay, and
also, in the same season, a bird ringed at
Sheskinmore National Nature Reserve, Co Donegal,
was resighted and photographed at Machrihanish
Bird Observatory on the Mull Of Kintyre. Even more
interestingly, this bird was photographed in a flock of
Twite, several of which had been ringed on the west
coast of England the previous winter.
Winter season
Winter flocks, such as those found along the
Dublin, Louth, Antrim and Donegal coasts, target
disturbed ground, drift lines and areas of saltmarsh.
There they forage for the seeds of plants such as
Where to see Twite
Summer: Probably the best place in Ireland to see
Twite is in their foraging areas in the small villages of
north Mayo or west Donegal.The easiest time to
observe Twite at this time of year is in July when
parties of juveniles forage busily with their constant
“tveeite” chatting call.
Glasswort, Sea Arrowgrass, Orache and Sea Mayweed.
The saltmarshes adjacent to Lough Foyle, Co Derry,
often sustain between 100-150 Twite each winter
season.
On the Mullet peninsula, cattle ring-feeders
provide a very important source of seed throughout
the winter. These feeders are used to provide haylage
(a cut forage grass with a moisture content between
that of hay and silage) to cattle throughout the
winter season. The haylage is generally harvested
locally, and often contains large densities of seeds of
Dandelion, Sorrel and Thistle, which the Twite target.
However, the use of cattle ring-feeders often results
in a large amount of damage to the land due to
constant poaching by cattle. As the predominant
Winter: Twite are very mobile in the winter time
and can be found in varying numbers right around the
coast of Ireland.The most regular spots are: Mullet
peninsula (Mayo), Raghly Point (Sligo), Sheskinmore
(Donegal), Myroe Levels (Derry), Belfast Docks
(Antrim), Soldiers Point (Louth).
Twite, Raghly Point, Co Sligo. Note the colour rings on
one bird; this helped in tracking its movements.
– Mark Carmody
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W INGS SUMMER 2010
How you can help
Another portrait of Twite
at Raghly Point, Co Sligo.
The Bird Atlas (2007-2011)
survey would benefit from your
volunteer input. Roving records
and timed tetrad visits are used
to develop a map for each
species. This information is vital
in any conservation programme
as no species can be protected
efficiently without data to base
objectives on.
– Mark Carmody
If you see a Twite, particularly
during the summer months
when they are breeding, go to
http://www.bto.org/birdatlas
and help in the conservation
work.
habitat type on the Mullet peninsula is machair (flat
sandy plains), this poaching eventually leads to the
destruction of this Annex I habitat. This raises a
conflict in conservation interests, and in terms of
biodiversity, it is ultimately an unsustainable
supplemental food source for Twite.
Threats to Twite
Changes in current land-use represent the main
threat to Twite in Ireland. Overgrazing and burning
in the nesting areas, which results in grasses
dominating, and undergrazing, which results in
shrub encroachment, are both detrimental to nesting
habitat. Further threats to nesting habitat include
afforestation and peat harvesting of blanket bogs.
The threat from climate change is very hard to
predict for a species like Twite. However, one
potential impact has already been observed in the
southeast of England where saltmarsh erosion has
resulted in the loss of important wintering grounds.
Where sea-level is predicted to rise, loss of saltmarsh
may be inevitable.
Conservation
Due to concern over a declining population, the
Twite is currently on the red list of Birds of
Conservation Concern in Ireland. It was listed in the
1993 Red Data Book as ‘indeterminate’ due to the
lack of data on its population status in Ireland.
However, based on current information, Twite meet
the IUCN Red Data Book criteria of ‘endangered’ and
therefore can be considered to be at high risk of
becoming extinct in the wild in Ireland.
The Twite is currently in a very precarious
situation and is undoubtedly vulnerable to extinction
here. To conserve populations in Ireland it is vital
that we pursue the design and implementation of
conservation prescriptions with urgency. We not only
have an obligation to protect our own breeding and
wintering birds, but we also play a part in conserving
the winter visitors from Scotland, where
WINGS SUMMER 2010
conservation efforts are underway to prevent further
severe decline of their current population of about
5,000 pairs.
Conservation measures for Twite, including the
maintenance of traditionally managed meadows, late
cutting of meadows, the provision of cereal plots and
the sustainable management of the uplands, would
benefit the greater biodiversity in these areas, and
particularly bird species including Red Grouse,
Skylark, Tree Sparrow and Linnet, all of whose
populations have declined in recent years.
As Twite breed and winter at sites within 30km of
each other, specific conservation actions for Twite
can be aimed initially at these areas, which will
benefit Twite throughout the entire year. The
conservation story of Twite can be a very positive
one if we take adequate steps to protect them now.
Dr Derek McLoughlin commenced the
first study of Twite in Ireland in 2005 and
completed his PhD on Twite in 2009.The
study was funded by the National Parks
and Wildlife Service and was supervised
by Dr Don Cotton (Sligo IT). Derek will
be continuing his research into the Twite’s
breeding ecology in 2010 through funding
from The Heritage Council Wildlife Grant
Scheme 2010. He can be contacted at
Laghloon,Westport, Co Mayo.
Watch on video
Mícheál Casey of BirdWatch Ireland’s Sligo Branch captured some lovely
footage of Twites at Raghly Point, Co Sligo, in February. View his clips at:
http://www.vimeo.com/9639019 and http://www.vimeo.com/9628632.
Male Twite (from video clip) showing characteristic pink rump.
– Mícheál Casey
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