How to survey breeding birds (UK)

As well as being an absorbing hobby, birdwatching is also a source of important data about the environment.

In the UK, it is very easy to get involved with surveying birds through the British Trust for Ornithology.

They run a number of different kinds of survey throughout the year, each with a different methodology.

This is a run-through of the Breeding Bird Survey process, and a fairly blatant request for other readers to get involved. A lot of the information and methodology comes from the BTO/BBS website, but modified from my own experiences.

(I will be assuming that you are already a birder of some level)

^{_{(There are some small edits for the 2011 season, mainly minor changes to websites.)}}

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Step 1: What is it?

Firstly, just what is the BBS?

It is a nation-wide survey, designed to be simple to take part in, aimed at keeping track of the wild bird population of the United Kingdom.

The data is used to provide both national and regional trends for bird populations.

The status of wild bird populations is an important indicator of the health of the countryside, and has received much greater interest from the Government and wider public in recent years. ... BBS results are being increasingly used to set conservation priorities by Governments and non-Governmental organisations.

skunkbait says: Feb 28, 2010. 8:11 PM

Oh, I see now! When I first saw the title, I assumed this was about how to find nice young British girls with which to procreate!!

PKM in reply to skunkbaitMar 19, 2010. 6:53 AM

You will need:

- A friday or saturday night
- A high street transect with a variety of habitats (clubs, Wetherspoons pubs, kebab shops)
- Binoculars or beer goggles
- Tough footwear. Waterproof clothing. A hat. (To protect against broken glass underfoot, drinks spillages and CCTV)

skunkbait in reply to PKMMar 19, 2010. 8:22 PM

Sounds like you know your bird breeding pretty well!