Breeding Birds Survey

Our experienced team of in-house ornithologists is complemented by numerous regionally-based specialist sub-consultants, with whom we have long-standing relationships.  This capacity and capability allows us to undertake bird survey work anywhere in the UK and Ireland to a high technical standard and enables us to pull together large teams of skilled field workers in a cost-effective manner.

We have experience of a wide range of survey techniques and our ornithological field services include:

• Vantage-point (VP) surveys to record flight lines of ‘target species.’       This includes adaption of techniques to map the flight lines of breeding divers, communally-roosting harriers and waterfowl that move from roosting to foraging areas in response to the tidal cycle or at specific times of day;
• Walkover (breeding) bird survey work based on Common Birds Census methods and standard moorland bird survey techniques;
• Point counts of singing and calling birds in a range of woodland types;
• Surveys for lekking species, such as black grouse;
• Surveys for nightjar, including estimation of territories and studies of ranging behavior;
• Use of boat and land-based survey for estimating breeding waterfowl numbers in freshwater habitats;
• Species specific surveys for Schedule 1 (Wildlife and Countryside Act) species such as barn owl, black redstart, stone curlew, some raptors (such as merlin and hen harrier) and divers;
• Winter field-by-field surveys to map the distribution of waterfowl (such as swans and golden plover) and establish their habitat preferences at the local landscape level;
• Counts and mapping of non-breeding waterfowl distribution in wetland environments such as estuaries, the open coast and on freshwater pools and reservoirs;
• Surveys to establish numbers of communally roosting non-breeding raptors and waterfowl;
• Thermal imaging survey for a range of nocturnal bird species using hi-spec company-owned cameras.

Our consultancy services include:

• Desk-based ornithological studies and consultation;
• Preliminary ornithological appraisals of proposed development sites;
• Stakeholder liaison;
• Advice on the implications of legal protection afforded to birds and assistance with understanding how key terms in legislation or guidance may be interpreted;
• Creation of opportunities for birds in new and existing buildings (integration of biodiversity in the design process);
• Method statements to ensure legislative compliance and minimise ornithological effects;
• Ornithological Impact Assessments (and other reports to inform planning applications);
• Appropriate Assessment / Habitats Regulations Assessment advice;
• Production of management plans for both development and conservation led projects; and,
• Development and implementation of monitoring protocols.