Renowned ecologist, Ralph Sheppard, celebrates the release of his new, exquisitely illustrated book, focusing on the diverse birdlife of County Donegal.
‘The Birds of County Donegal’ stands as the definitive historical record and status report for all 376 bird species documented in the region. This comprehensive work details their specific habitats, and chronicles the dedicated efforts of ornithologists and birdwatchers who study them. The book is richly enhanced with photographs, insightful graphics, and iconic paintings by Robert Vaughan.
Ecologist, Ralph Sheppard.
Mr. Sheppard’s connection with Donegal’s birdlife spans decades, beginning in his childhood.
“As a child I knew about birds from books, but I had never seen one in flight,” he said.
“So at the age of seven, when I got my first pair of spectacles, a flock of Rooks against the sky opened up a whole new world. The bond with nature was forged, and there was no going back.”
This detailed publication provides the current vernacular name in Ireland, the internationally accepted name, the scientific name, and the Irish name for each species and subspecies, verified by organizations like the Irish Rare Birds Committee. The book compiles information from previous publications, national monitoring programs, specialized species surveys, habitat assessments, and real-time observations from the passionate birdwatching community.
The front cover of ‘The Birds of County Donegal’.
This beautifully illustrated volume, supplemented by maps, tables, graphs, photographs, and Robert Vaughan’s artwork, exhaustively documents the status of each bird from the earliest records in the 18th century up to 2024. As the ultimate resource on the history of birds and birdwatching in Donegal, the book is essential for birdwatchers, ornithological researchers throughout Ireland and beyond, and anyone with an interest in the natural world.
‘The Birds of County Donegal’ is priced at €59 and available at reputable bookstores. It can also be purchased online from Cork University Press: www.corkuniversitypress.com
Ralph Sheppard, a seasoned ecologist residing in East Donegal, has diligently monitored the county’s avian populations since the 1950s. He previously held a Lectureship in Ecology at Bristol Polytechnic from 1970 to 1978 and worked as an ecological consultant in Ireland from 1978 until his retirement in 2010. His published works include “Ireland’s Wetland Wealth: the report of the Winter Wetlands Survey 1984/5 to 1986/7” (Irish Wildbird Conservancy). He also contributed chapters to “Atlas of County Donegal,” edited by Mac Laughlin and Beatty (Cork University Press), and “The Natural History of Ulster,” edited by Faulkner and Thompson (National Museums Northern Ireland). He served on the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board from 1999 to 2020. Notably, he was a council member of the Irish Wildbird Conservancy and An Taisce, and the inaugural chair of the Irish Wildbird Conservancy’s Donegal branch.
A beautiful Spotted Flycatcher photographed at Carnowen, Castlefin. Pic: Ralph Sheppard.
Much loved local ecologist launches ‘Birds of County Donegal’ was last modified: July 3rd, 2025 by
Tags:
