Aerial surveying of grey seal breeding colonies on the Blasket Islands, Co. Kerry, the Inishkea Group, Co. Mayo and the Donegal Coast, Ireland.

The status of Ireland's grey seat population and its relationship with that of Britain and Western Europe, are poorly understood. The existing population estimate for grey seats in Ireland is outdated and urgency exists to establish a reliable national population estimate for this species, listed as an Annex II species under the EU Habitats Directive. Prior to the initiation of a survey on a national scale, the success or otherwise of aerial techniques in surveying grey seat breeding habitat on the Irish coastline first needs to be established. Previously, surveys were boat-based and were susceptible to adverse weather conditions frequently encountered during the autumn breeding season. The feasibility of using aerial techniques to survey grey seat breeding colonies in Ireland was tested during the breeding season of 2003. (C) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.