Bird Surveys

As birds are particularly susceptible to disturbance during their breeding season they are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (and as amended). Wintering birds are also vulnerable to disturbance and key feeding/resting areas should be identified during any survey. Any impact should be fully considered before and during any proposed development or management strategy.

Our team of dedicated ornithologists have extensive knowledge of ornithological surveying techniques including:

•  Breeding bird survey
•  Common Bird Census including territory mapping - read more >>
•  Flight line survey (vantage point) for wind farm appraisals
•  Coastal ornithological monitoring (both long and short term)
•  Farmland bird surveys - read more >>
•  Mapping and transect surveys

There are also occasions when it is necessary for single species surveys to be conducted and this can be provided following the latest techniques and guidelines.

Bird surveys are undertaken to assess the impacts of changes in land-use or for the loss of woodland or scrub habitats as well as for biodiversity audits.

The information imparted by the surveys is used to provide a mitigation strategy that will benefit the avifauna of a site.

For example:

A proposal to convert barns and outbuildings will require a survey for barn owls in connection with planning consent. Barn owls are listed on Schedule 1 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (and as amended). Under this legislation they are protected against disturbance whilst building a nest or on or near a nest containing eggs or dependant young. Should breeding by barns owls be proven on a site, mitigation measures can be employed to ensure a minimal impact on the local breeding status of the birds.