The different types or species of bird that can be found in a particular area depends mainly on how many different kinds of terrain occur there. This is because each species of bird, and all animals and plants, are adapted to live and obtain their food in particular kinds of places which are known as habitats or eco-systems. Buncrana is fortunate in having several different kinds of habitat in it's vicinity. The most obvious is the sea and sea shore. There is not just one but two rivers which flow into the sea at their estuaries. There is woodland at Porthaw Glen and around Ned's Point and also on a smaller scale in Swan Park. A walk to Father Hegarty's Rock will take you into heather moorland or blanket Bog which also surounds Buncrana on the hills and mountains. There is farmland on the lower ground outside the town. Gardens are another habitat but many of the birds that are found there are really farmland or woodland birds who don't care if their little patch of wood or field is a shrubbery or lawn. Some birds however have learned to live closely with people, for instance, House Sparrows, House Martins, Swallows and Swifts, which make their nests in our buildings, so you could say that the town is another separate habitat.

Follow the links below for some of the birds that can be seen within walking distance of Buncrana grouped roughly according to their habitat. These are birds that can be seen frequently but what makes an interest in birds and wildlife exciting is when you see something unexpected - good hunting!