Description: This book is a history of the birds of County Cork from the earliest times to the present. It provides a comprehensive account of the ecology of all species known to have occurred in the county, with an emphasis on distribution, population change and migration. There has been no tradition in Ireland for the publication of county avifaunas, as has been the case in the UK for over 200 years; while this is not the first such book for Ireland, no previous publication treats each species in such depth. This sets it apart as unique in an Irish context.
Brief description: Patrick Smiddy is an honorary research associate with the Ornithology Group at University College Cork. He has published widely, having written several book chapters as well as a considerable number of scientific papers. A former member of the Irish Rare Birds Committee and editor of the journal Irish Birds, Patrick retired from the National Parks and Wildlife Service in 2008 but continued to work in wildlife consultancy. He has wide experience of Irish ornithology spanning 50 years.
Review Quotes: The authors deserve great credit for this work, which will make a significant contribution to the fields of ornithology and avian conservation in Ireland. It is one of the most significant and overdue Irish ornithological publications of recent times, and represents a very significant contribution to the literature. --Niall Hatch, Head of Communications & Development, BirdWatch Ireland