SPECIAL AREAS of conservation need to be set up to save one of Ireland’s most endangered birds, the twite, which is facing extinction with only 100 breeding pairs in the country, an expert has said.
Dr Derek McLoughlin said the twite, carduelis flavirostris, has disappeared from most of Ireland, and he has "grave concern" for the future of this native finch.
He said north Mayo and west Donegal were the main breeding areas of the twite, accounting for up to 80 per cent of the Irish population. There were small breeding populations in west Kerry, north Donegal and along the north Antrim coast.
Although the winter populations of the twite grows to about 1,000 birds, the 100 breeding pairs in Ireland are being hit by loss of habitat.
The twite will normally nest in long heather and sometimes in bracken – invariably on the top of wild, north-facing sea cliffs. According to Dr McLoughlin, they nest close to peregrine falcon nesting sites which gives them protection from grey crows and ravens.
Living on seed from dandelion, annual meadow grass, common sorrel, chickweed and sea plantain, they remain in their Irish breeding areas from late April to September or October, and generally over winter in flocks within a 30km radius of their nests.
Writing in the current edition of the BirdWatch e-wingsmagazine, Dr McLoughlin said the twite was in a very precarious situation. He proposed conservation measures which include maintenance of traditionally-managed meadows, their late cutting, and the sustainable management of uplands to ensure the survival of the bird.