Thursday, 30 January 2025

The 2025 Heathland Breeding Birds Survey

The BTO and RSPB have recently launched a national heathland breeding birds species survey, some 20 years after the last survey was undertaken. The prime target species for our region are Dartford Warbler and Nightjar.

The survey aims to cover selected 1km squares with potentially suitable habitat that could support the target species. Records of other important heathland bird species are also required. These include cuckoo, wheatear, stonechat, grasshopper warbler, tree pipit and linnet.

The link below provides more information and details about this important survey: https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/heathland-birds-survey?dm_i=1L9X%2C8RX1Z%2C659SXK%2C10HJPH%2C1

Here is a link to the "request a square" page: https://app.bto.org/heathland/square/request_square.jsp?%40=2

A big thanks to those who have already registered for the survey and have been allocated squares.

The BTO have yet to provide 1km square details for the nightjar component, but these are expected soon.