Jacqueline Hay (BS., PhD, MIEEM, EFAEP) and
Mark Lang (BSc, CEnv, MIEEM)


Date: 27+28/05/2009

Course length: 2 days

Venue:
Cresswell Associates, The Mill, Brimscombe Port, Stroud,
GL5 2QG

Course fee: £300
5% or 10% discount available if 2+ / 4+ courses are booked respectively

Outline:
This course on ornithological survey methodologies in the context of development projects covers the legislative background for the protection of British birds, acquiring desk study and other sources of information, triggers for bird surveys, appropriate bird survey techniques and interpretation of survey results, with examples from case studies and field trips. 

Further information:
Cresswell Associates
The Mill, Brimscombe Port
Stroud, GL5 2QG

T: +44 (0) 1453 731 231
F: +44 (0) 1453 888 797

 

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Target audience:

This course is aimed at those planning and carrying out ornithological surveys, particularly with reference to development projects, who wish to learn more about the status of British birds and their legal protection, what survey methods are appropriate and how survey results should be interpreted.

Aims:

To provide:

• information on the legal protection afforded to British birds, and place this in the European context
• instructions on how to find suitable desk study information and related data for birds e.g. WeBS data
• an introduction to the variety of ornithological survey techniques (including wintering birds, breeding birds, wader surveys, point counts, vantage point surveys and species-specific surveys), and how to choose which is appropriate

• information on how to interpret survey results

To demonstrate:

• case studies including road schemes, wind farms and barn owl surveys
• appropriate bird survey techniques in three different habitats: woodland, wetland and grassland

Objectives:

At the end of the course you should be able to:

• demonstrate an awareness of the legislative background (national and European) for British birds
• identify suitable sources of information on bird data

• describe the triggers for ornithological surveys
• plan and choose appropriate survey techniques for particular development scenarios
• carry out bird surveys
• interpret survey results in the context of a development project
  

Course content:

Lectures

• British birds and their legal protection in the national and European context
• Sources of information on birds
• Triggers for ornithological surveys
• Appropriate ornithological survey methods:

Workshop

• Case studies (including road schemes, wind farms and barn owl surveys) examining the planning and commissioning of ornithological surveys from desk study through to project completion

Fieldwork

• Cotswold Water Park: WeBS counts for waders and wildfowl
• Breeding bird surveys in a local woodland site
• Upland bird surveys on local common

Additional information/requirements:

Participants will require binoculars. A list of local accommodation is available on request