BIRDWATCH IRELAND is trying to keep secret the location of a rare bird with highly unusual mating habits.
The red-necked phalarope, a dainty wading bird, which Birdwatch Ireland is hoping will re-establish here, has been sighted at a midland location in recent weeks.
Due to a decline in habitat, the bird is believed to have last bred in Ireland in the 1980s. It generally breeds in the arctic regions of North America, Europe and Asia and is noted for having a remarkable habits of procreation.
In a “sexual role reversal”, the female displays more colourful plumage than the male, defends territory, takes the dominant role in courtship and then refuses all child-rearing duties except egg laying. Once the eggs have arrived she will depart, often in search of another mate, and leave the male behind to incubate and rear the chicks.
Birdwatch Ireland’s Brian Caffrey confirmed the sighting of the red-necked phalarope but asked for the location to remain secret.
He said a post relating to the sighting had appeared on a bird-watching website and “within hours, the place was overrun with birdwatchers”. Following a request from Birdwatch Ireland, the post was removed.
However, there have been no recorded sightings since and Birdwatch Ireland is concerned about the impact of birdwatchers on the potential breeding ground.
“They are a very rare breeding bird, as yet there is no evidence that it is actually breeding,” Mr Caffrey said.
Alex Copland of Birdwatch Ireland has appealed to birdwatchers to make contact before going to see very rare birds. “In this particular instance, it is likely that this could be the only red-necked phalarope seen in Ireland during the year,” he said.