Passionate about woodcock, Michael aims to produce Northern Irelandʼs first estimate of woodcock population size.
Michael Stinson is an ecologist and project manager for the Boa Island Breeding Wader Project. The initiative is led by Lough Erne Wildfowlers’ Council and is aiming to restore breeding wader populations in the Erne Basin. He’s currently working (with financial support from BASC) to ensure that the GWCT/BTO Breeding Woodcock Survey coverage is high enough to produce Northern Ireland’s first estimate of woodcock population size.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
The importance of being open minded in conservation and listening to a wide range of voices – following the evidence, not simply what is fashionable at any given time.
What motivates you?
A desire to restore the lost biodiversity of rural Ireland. I hope that future generations might know the abundance of wildlife which was present when my grandfather grew up.
What have you learnt during the Boa Island Breeding Wader Project?
This grassroots, community-based initiative, has built a genuine partnership between the shooting community and landowners to benefit breeding waders and wider biodiversity. Both local farmers and wildfowlers are passionate about seeing once familiar species thrive again, which is inspiring.
What do you think the relationship is between shooting and conservation?
At its best, management undertaken for shooting can be exceptionally valuable for conservation. While poor practice associated with shooting is thankfully limited, any remaining negative actions must cease. The overall benefit of shooting for conservation is too frequently overshadowed. The shooting community must grasp all opportunities to highlight the positives and reach out to wider circles.
Why is the GWCT’s research so important?
GWCT’s evidence-based research and advice is of the highest calibre and is invaluable for those undertaking conservation activities in the agricultural landscape. Its approach to working collaboratively with different communities mirrors that undertaken through our project.
Why is it important that people monitor woodcock populations?
Until 2023 there has been no baseline population estimate for NI breeding woodcock and a key objective of the survey was to ensure coverage of sufficient sites to enable calculation of this figure. The local shooting community, together with BASC, have been very supportive. Breeding woodcock here face a range of potential challenges including habitat loss, increasing deer populations, changes in woodland management and large numbers of generalist predators. As a quarry species, it is crucial that we have an accurate understanding of the current situation to ensure future sustainability of hunting.
What do you think the future holds?
Despite sustained efforts and decades of agri-environment scheme funding, breeding wader populations have collapsed (often by 90%+). However, there are projects where wader decline has been halted and reversed. Expansion of these types of socially embedded approaches to conservation will be key to the future survival of breeding waders in NI.
What are the main conservation challenges?
Our breeding waders face the same challenges as elsewhere– agricultural intensification, abundance of generalist predators, inappropriately sited commercial forestry and the lack of sufficient long-term funding support for landowners to undertake breeding wader friendly measures.
What is your favourite species and why?
Snipe, circling local reedbeds at dusk and the arrow-like displacement of air as they land.
First published in Gamewise Autumn 2023