Patrick Smiddy

University College Cork | UCC · Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science

Believed to have been extinct in Ireland by 1900, since the 1960s the Common Buzzard has recolonised most of the island of Ireland. To date, the origins and genetic composition of this contemporary Irish population remain undescribed. It has been postulated that the Irish breeding population is largely composed of birds dispersing from Britain, whi...

In Ireland, large numbers of birds are ringed annually. However, although many bird ringers diligently record biometric data, few published records describing the biometrics of Irish avifauna exist. Presently, ornithologists and other researchers regularly rely on biometric data obtained from other European populations when identifying the sex and...

Telomeres have emerged as important biomarkers of health and senescence as they predict chances of survival in various species. Tropical birds live in more benign environments with lower extrinsic mortality and higher juvenile and adult survival than temperate birds. Therefore, telomere biology may play a more important role in tropical compared to...

This study presents an account of the diet of barn owls Tyto alba (Scopoli) which fed mainly on two invasive species in County Cork, Ireland during a one-year period. Greater white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula (Hermann) (68%) and bank vole Myodes glareolus (Schreber) (18%) constituted 86% of diet by number and 76% by biomass. Among indigenous sp...

Background Latitudinal variation in avian life histories falls along a slow-fast pace of life continuum: tropical species produce small clutches, but have a high survival probability, while in temperate species the opposite pattern is found. This study investigated whether differential investment into reproduction and survival of tropical and tempe...

The common kestrel Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus is chiefly a predator of small mammals, and breeding density and success often fluctuate in tandem with cyclic population changes of Microtus voles and the common shrew Sorex araneus Linnaeus. Ireland traditionally had four prey species to support its predatory birds and mammals—field mouse Apodemus syl...

A survey was conducted within the entire land catchment of the Munster River Blackwater where a total of 275 sites was surveyed within 146 squares (5 × 5km), 184 (66.9%) proving positive and 91 (33.1%) negative for Otter Lutra lutra Linnaeus presence. Just one square was negative and this contained only two small ponds and no running water. Most sq...

Some 49 species of birds bred in Ireland for the first time in the 210-year period 1801 to 2010. Of these 49 species, 23 established viable breeding populations. However, two have, after an initial period of growth, declined again and hover on the point of extinction (Black-necked Grebe, Red-necked Phalarope). Two others, although never numerous, h...

Previous studies of short-eared owl Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan) diet in Ireland have all been relatively small in scale and restricted in time. A total of 759 prey items were recovered and identified for this study during six winters (2005/2006-2010/2011). A further 271 prey items collected by the same authors in 2004/2005 for a previous study make...

Tree species composition is a key driver of forest biodiversity, influencing structural components of the environment from soil and litter to vegetation layers and the canopy, and ecosystem processes, such as nutrient cycling. Single species stands, particularly intensively managed monoculture plantations, are typically more homogenous in habitat s...

This chapter reviews the research conducted on the birds of lowland bogs, fens and reedswamps in Ireland to date.

Capsule Higher breeding success of Irish birds may explain why this population has not declined.

The breeding biology of Grey Wagtails in Ireland was studied over 14 years. A total of 220 nests was located, mostly on bridges. First egg dates varied from 29 March to 2 July with a peak of egg laying in the second week of April. The mean clutch size was 4.79 (± 0.04 se), the mean brood size at hatching 4.59 (± 0.05 se) and at fledging 4.00 (± 0.0...

The breeding biology of Irish Dippers was studied over 12 years. A total of 501 nests was located, mostly at artificial sites, notably bridges. Irish Dippers start breeding earlier, lay fewer eggs, fledge fewer young and have fewer second broods than most other populations. The mean clutch size was 4.16 (±se 0.03) and the mean brood size at fledgin...

Studies over two decades have shown a marked trend towards a decrease in blood lead levels in the mute swan (Cygnus olor) in parts of Ireland. However, this study shows that a small percentage of some populations of mute swans in Co. Cork still have significantly elevated lead levels, causing some potentially sublethal effects to the health status...

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JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica roosting time was studied at a south‐coast Irish reedbed during 2003 to 2006. Roosting time varied between 11 and 35 minutes after sunset. There was no significant difference in roosting time after sunset across years. Roosting time (relative to sunset) was later in July than in August and September. The time interval b...

Forty Dippers Cinclus cinclus hibernicus were caught and deloused in southwest Ireland in 2003. Two species of lice (Mallophaga) were recorded; Philopterus cincli and Myrsidea franciscoloi. Both these species are known ectoparasites of the Dipper, yet these records were the first for Ireland. The incidence and infestation rates reported in this stu...

The outer breast plumage temperature of Dippers Cinclus cinclus roosting beneath river bridges was measured using an infra red thermometer over the environmental temperature range -0.8 to + 10.9°C. Plumage temperature was close to and directly related to, the temperature of the birds' surroundings, but significantly higher (ΔT = 2.87°C) suggesting...

A sample of 124 deserted/infertile dipper (Cinclus cinclus) eggs was collected in south-west Ireland during six seasons (1990-1994 and 1999) and analysed for mercury and organochlorines. Mercury was detected in three of the 6 years but no trend was observed. DDT occurred above the limit of detection in only two eggs, one each in 1993 and 1994. In c...

The diet of Daubenton’s batMyotis daubentonii (Kuhl, 1817), which takes prey by aerial hawking and from the surface of water, was investigated by analysis of faeces collected in summer at 7 roosts, all close to rivers in pastoral land, in three widely-separated districts in Ireland. Forty-seven categories of arthropod prey were identified; several...

Totals of 1,833 nestling and 478 full grown Dippers Cinclus cinclus were ringed in southwest Ireland between 1989 and 1998. Three of these birds were reported by the public and we recaptured 373 individuals. Of these, 151 (40%) had moved from the ringing site on recapture or when found dead. Juvenile dispersal began in June. Birds ringed as nestlin...

The diet of Leisler's bat Nyctalus leisleri was investigated by analysis of droppings collected from six mainly pastoral sites in Ireland, two sites in England (one mainly pastoral, one arable predominating) and three in Germany (in forest), and comprised mainly medium-sized and small insects caught in flight, many of which were probably from swarm...

Mammalian prey of barn owls Tyto alba in various district electoral divisions in County Cork was examined against areas under cereals, sugar-beet, potatoes, other crops, hay, pasture, silage, rough grazing, woodland and the residual area - including farms of less than 5ha, commercial conifer stands and unimproved land - in those divisions. House mi...

This paper examines the geographical distribution (maps are included) of the following flea species in Ireland (mammalian hosts are also provided): Pulex irritans, Xenopsylla cheopis, Archaeopsylla erinacei erinacei, Ctenocephalides canis, C. felis felis, Spilopsyllus cuniculus, Hystrichopsylla talpae talpae, Typhloceras poppei, Rhadinopsylla penta...

Covers the distribution, hosts and hosts' roosts or hibernation sites of the six species of bat flea known to occur in Ireland. Seven species of bat have been recorded in Ireland; lesser horseshoe Rhinolophus hipposideros, whiskered Myotis mystacinus, Natterer's M. nattereri, Daubenton's M. daubentoni, Leisler's Nyctalus leisleri, pipistrelle Pipis...

Biometrie data of Irish Dippers were investigated over two years. Wing length, tarsus length and weight were measured from fully grown and nestling birds across a number of sites in southern Ireland. Fully grown birds were found to be sexually dimorphic for wing length, tarsus length and weight. The degree of sexual dimorphism was less than expecte...