Böðvar Þórisson releasing a colour ringed adult Black-tailed Godwit in northwest Iceland.

The theme of this co-operative international study is to link what the birds do on the wintering and breeding grounds in order to understand the factors that regulate the population size of a migratory bird species. Some of the questions the project is trying to find answers for are below. Some of these questions have been answered while most still require more research.

· How big is the population?

· Why is the population increasing at present?

· What routes do the birds take between and within countries?

· Are individuals faithful to breeding and wintering areas and, if so, what factors influence faithfulness?

· What determines site selection and habitat quality on wintering and breeding grounds?

· Do birds wintering on more favourable sites arrive earlier on the breeding grounds?

· Do earlier arrivals breed more successfully?

· Do early breeders and their offspring have an advantage on the wintering grounds?

A colour ringed Black-tailed Godwit in Iceland.

Further goals of the International Godwit Study are:

· To use the scientific network and research to facilitate conservation of coastal ecosystems and migratory birds, through public education and awareness raising.

· To encourage as many people as possible to get involved and enjoy this exciting work.

The first Cork colour ringed Black-tailed Godwit, filmed three years after it was caught and colour ringed..

A few facts about the colour-ringing project:

-Currently, ca. 2% of the total population is individually colour-ringed.
-Over 8000 sightings of colour-ringed godwits are on file.
-Over 90% of adult godwits ringed in Iceland are seen in other countries.
-Around 20% of unfledged godwit chicks ringed in Iceland are seen in other countries.
-Almost 25% of godwits ringed on the wintering grounds are seen in Iceland every year.

The Black-tailed Godwit Project in Cork harbour.

Over 1,000 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits use Cork Harbour every year and so it is internationally important for this bird. Black-tailed Godwits can be very difficult to catch and only after three attempts was the first one caught in Cork harbour by an international group lead by Pete Potts from England. Since the early winter of 2006 regular mist netting sessions have started at Brown Island in the harbour and the team led by head ringer, Barry O'Mahony, have succeeded in catching and colour ringing a second Black-tailed Godwit. The catching and colour ringing of the godwits does not cause long-term harm to the birds. One Black-taield Godwit is still being seen 26 years after it was colour ringed!

The second Cork bird, being ringed by Becca Hayhow

School Godwit Project

Willie McSweeney's 5th Class pupils prepare to look for Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits.

Some of the work of the pupils

Since October 2006 Mr. Willie McSweeney's 5th Class pupils have been taking part in this exciting study and learning about the birds and wetlands in Cork harbour. Scoil Iosaef Naofa is situated right in the middle of the harbour.
Becca Hayhow examining mud samples from areas where the godwits feed.

Becca Hayhow, from the University of East Anglia, is doing her PhD on the behaviour of the Black-tailed Godwits on the south coast of Ireland has been a great help to the class. Providing colour ring sightings, updated on the movements of the godwits and helping with field trips.
Tómas Gunnarsson with Black-tailed Godwit chicks in Iceland.

The class send the sightings of colour ringed godwits seen in and around Cork harbour to one of the study organisers, Tómas Gunnarsson, in Iceland and in return he sends them known life histories of the colour ringed birds.
Each student adopts a colour-ringed Godwit and maps its movements

When the class gets a godwit life history a pupil "adopts" the bird and using the life history information draws lines on a map of Europe showing where it has been since it was colour ringed. The map is then put up on the wall of the class. A red dot is also placed on a big map of Iceland showing where the Cork godwits were ringed. The class has over 20 life histories of godwits seen in Cork harbour and they hope to get even more.


Two Black-tailed Godwits in flight.

The class has gone looking for colour ringed Godwits. They had a great time and saw plenty of godwits and other wetland birds on their first trip to the mudflats near the school but unfortunately no colour ringed birds. They hope to try again and as more and more godwit move to the mudflats of Cork harbour before flying north to Iceland in April they are hopeful of seeing one then.

Part of a flock of over a thousand Black-tailed Godwits in flight near Glounthaune

Becca Hayhow helps students look for Godwits


A pupil scans the mudflats at Glounthaune


Pupils take turns watching a colour-ringed godwit on the Glounthaune mudflats


Recording what is observed is an essential part of the project


Another pupil looks for colour-ringed godwits

Mr. McSweeney's class on the lookout for colour-ringed godwits

Class twinning with a school in Siglufjörður, northern Iceland

Because of our project on the Black-tailed Godwit our school has linked up with a school in Siglufjörður, a town in northern Iceland! This is fascinating, as the Black-tailed Godwits we see wintering here in Cork Harbour return to Iceland each spring. In fact, from our colour ringed observations some of the birds seen here have also been sighted close to Siglufjörður!

Classes from both schools have been in contact through email and also by post. We have learned about each other’s areas and interests. As we have an ongoing weather project we have also compared weather data. We have also learned some Icelandic words and have taught our Icelandic friends some Irish! CD’s of traditional music of both countries have also been exchanged!

This has all happened because of our mutual interest in the Black-tailed Godwit!