The Big Farmland Bird Count
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust ( GWCT ) is urging farmers , land managers and gamekeepers to start thinking about its fifth annual Big Farmland Bird Count ( BFBC ), which runs from Friday 9th to Sunday 18th February 2018 .
It takes just 30 minutes to count the birds on a selected couple of hectares ( 5 acres ) on your land and send the results to the Trust .
The counts will then be analysed by the GWCT , who will then report the results widely to all those who are not aware of the considerable efforts that are now being put in place to reverse bird declines , by those who work the land .
“ Farmers and keepers are now doing tremendous work to boost farmland birds and other wildlife ,” said BFBC founder Jim Egan .
“ As well as planting seed mixes to feed birds , they also leave weedy stubbles over-winter , manage hedgerows so as to leave berries for food and also supplement this food by putting out mixed seeds and grain on tracks and field margins .
“ We want to help farmers and keepers build their own records of bird numbers on their land . They are managing existing habitats and creating new ones specifically to help our farmland birds . Now is the time to help them shout about what they are doing .”
Research by GWCT has clearly identified how to bring bird numbers back onto productive farmland , and this research is ably demonstrated by the GWCT ’ s renowned Allerton project farm at Loddington in Leicestershire . At the project we have successfully increased the abundance of song birds on the farm to 98 % above the level they were at in 1992 .
However , if farmers across the UK are to collectively halt the decline of many farmland bird species , they need to demonstrate to Government that they are willing , able and ready to do so .
Peter Thompson , GWCT ’ s biodiversity adviser , explains : “ Without this observable commitment , perhaps , environmental payments post Brexit could be put in jeopardy . So it is vital that farmers and keepers start to consider the long-game by demonstrating more effectively what they are achieving .
“ The Big Farmland Bird Count is certainly one very positive way to do this .”
Take part in the BFBC this coming February . Remember , just half an hour is all it takes to make a big difference . Let ’ s join forces to show that as well as being good food producers , farmers and keepers are also the true custodians of the countryside .”
Ahead of the count , the GWCT is offering an exciting opportunity for shooters , farmers , gamekeepers and land managers to take part in a farmland bird identification training session .
The ID days run across the UK throughout January and early February and provide advice on birds that can be tricky to differentiate such as a tree sparrow and a chaffinch .
Each day will be run by a farmland bird expert alongside a host farmer and , at the end of the day , participants will hopefully feel more confident in spotting the top 20 bird species likely to be seen on farmland over winter .
The ID days , which fill fast , cost £ 10 per person . There ’ s a maximum of 25 participants for each day .
For more information , visit www . gwct . org . uk / BFBCID
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