fieldwork
WWT - "Wildest Hide & Seek" study
The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) is asking people across the UK to help with their ‘Wildest Hide & Seek’ study, which is looking at the effects wetlands may have on the range of wildlife found nearby.
SMADD 2009 - Pilot Survey Results
Summary of 2009 Data
Contributors (17) - 5 South Hams, 3 mid-Devon, 3 North, 2 Dartmoor, 3 West, I SE.
Summer migrant species: 9 at inland breeding sites, 15 on autumn coastal passage
Departures of Summer Migrants
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Breeding sites inland |
Coastal passage sites |
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Swift Breeding Bird Arrivals & Departures - 2010Following on from the 2009 SMADD survey, Peter Dare has decided to continue with a further pilot for 2010. The survey will now be known simply as Breeding Bird Arrival & Departures or BBAD. This year two pilot survey has a revised recording form which can be downloaded in either Excel or PDF formats. Disturbance to Stressed Birds in Harsh Winter Weather8 January 2010Heidi Mellan, WeBS Counter Network Organiser, has issued advise to WeBS counters about disturbance to waterbirds in harsh winter conditions. This is in advance of the next WeBS date (17th January) and it was felt best to bring the BTO article to everyones attention. SMADD 2009 SurveyPeter Dare and Pete Reay are looking forward to receiving your Summer Migrant Arrival and Departure Dates in Devon (SMADD) pilot survey records. Even if you only have one date for one species, please send it in, as the responses to the pilot survey will help decide the scope of the full survey (due to start with summer migrant arrivals in 2010), and what modifications to the survey may be needed. Exmoor Moorland Breeding Bird Survey 200814 May 2009During the spring and summer of 2008, a breeding bird survey, funded by the Exmoor National Park, Natural England and South West Water, was carried out on moorlands within Exmoor National Park. The main objective was to provide current data on the breeding populations of moorland birds, and put these into both a national and regional context. The survey also aimed to highlight trends in species abundance and distribution since previous surveys in 1978, 1992/93 and 2002, and investigate habitat associations relating to these trends. Bird Atlas in Devon – a special progress report20 February 2009The late Mark Blacksell and late John Woodland worked tirelessly to recruit and encourage birdwatchers across Devon to participate in the national BTO Atlas by taking on tetrads for timed counts and to make a note of their casual records. In a special report for the Devon Birds website, National Coordinator DAWN BALMER reports on progress with the survey in Devon. Forms for submitting records of Devon and National raritiesThe categorisation of species as either County or National rarities is given in the listing at the back of each year's Devon Bird Report. You can also find this information on the Devon List & Checklist page, which includes a link to a downloadable pdf of the current Devon Checklist.
Submitting records of Devon County rarities
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| Birdwatching with the Taw/Torridge branch – May 2009 |
| A memorable field trip (with East Devon branch) – August 2009 |
Birds
This section contains articles written especially for the website that focus on bird biology, identification, fieldwork and the like.
Articles available
| Tumbling Buzzards – January 2010 |
| Separating Goshawk from Sparrowhawk – February 2009 |
| BTO Atlas – special report – February 2009 |
BTO Atlas - Update 3
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What a fantastic response from Devon birders
Revised text of a John Woodland report from August 2008
The last published Atlas is 20 years old and increasingly out of date. Atlasses are one of the main tools used by conservationists to identify and underpin the actions that need to be taken to protect the natural environment. The need to update the 1988-91 Atlas is therefore paramount. Thus, in 2007, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), together with BirdWatch Ireland (BWI) and the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC) embarked upon this mammoth task, one that will take four years to complete.
BTO Atlas - Update 2 - Early Findings
Early findings
Revised text of a John Woodland report of April 2008
The submission of Atlas records on-line allows the BTO very quickly to build a picture of the distributions of birds. The orange dots on the maps below are based entirely on records submitted to the website as Roving Records and Timed Tetrad Visits and show presence in a 10-km square. However, these maps do not show the complete picture; it will take four years to do that!
BTO Atlas - Update 1
Thirty one million birds counted so far.
Revised text of a John Woodland piece from 30 March 2008
November 2007 saw the start of the biggest survey ever to take place in the UK. A new “Winter” atlas and a new “Breeding” atlas will result after 4 years fieldwork during 2007-2011.
BTO Atlas in Devon
John Woodland
Tim Davis, Editor
It is with deep sadness that we report the death of John Woodland, shortly before Christmas, on 18 December 2008. John had been ill for some time but continued to fulfil his role as BTO Regional Representative and Devon Atlas Coordinator until only a few days before his death.
John’s enthusiasm for and dedication to the birds of Devon, especially through his work on behalf of the BTO, a role he filled for many years, were immense. He will be much missed and a very hard act to follow. A full obituary will appear in a forthcoming issue of Devon Birds.