Ryan Hanley were commissioned by Uisce Eireann to deliver environmental consultancy services on the Coolatee Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) and included a number of baseline environmental surveys necessary to inform the design, planning consent and construction mitigation for the project including otter (Lutra lutra) and whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) surveys.
Whooper Swans migrate from Iceland to Ireland and Britain in the autumn and return to their breeding grounds in late spring. Co. Donegal and especially Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle and surrounding areas are some of the most important roosting and foraging habitats for migrating flocks on arrival from Iceland.
The Whooper Swan is listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive. A significant proportion of the over wintering migratory population occurs in the island of Ireland, which has led to the designation of European Sites as Special Protection Areas (SPA), including both Lough Swilly SPA and Lough Foyle SPA; the latter was designated as SPAs across two jurisdictions in respect of both the UK, Northern Ireland, habitat on the east side of Lough Foyle and along the west side of Lough Foyle in the Republic of Ireland (ROI).
Survey visits to Coolatee and surrounding areas were made once or twice per month by Ryan Hanley Ecologists from October to March in order to attain a representative record of whooper swan numbers and distribution over the season.
The objective of the surveys was to ascertain the potential for impacts on whooper swans of the proposed ICW development at Coolatee and to provide an informed overview of how the distribution of swans and habitat usage occurs relative to the project location. Following assessment of data collected, Ryan Hanley Ecologists concluded that whooper swans occur irregularly, in relatively low numbers, and were not found critically close to the proposed location of the proposed ICW.
Learn more about the Coolatee Integrated Constructed Wetlands: Coolatee Integrated Constructed Wetlands | Projects | Ryan Hanley
