Farmers, rangers and sport or forest keepers who care about wildlife conservation are being inspired to hitch the 2024 Big Farmland Bird Count (BFBC).
Organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), sponsored by the NFU and supported by the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW), the BFBC is the primary UK-wide citizen science venture to contain land managers in monitoring the state of farmland birds.
The rely goals to lift consciousness of the necessary position they play within the conservation of farmland birds, and to measure the influence of the conservation work that many farmers and wildlife managers perform.
Since its inception in 2014, almost 13,000 individual counts have been carried out, offering snapshots of the chook populations on UK farms.
A spokesperson from the FUW stated: “The intention of the Big Farmland Bird Count is to lift consciousness of the nice conservation work being finished on farms throughout Wales and to spotlight what will be finished to assist farmland birds survive this troublesome time of yr in order that the breeding populations are elevated.
“With many modifications on the horizon for the agriculture sector, we have to perceive what farmers can do after which match it up with schemes available going ahead.
“The FUW is proud to be supporting this initiative in Wales and we hope many farms will participate once again this year.”
Dr Roger Draycott, from the GWCT, stated: “Farmland birds have declined by 63% since 1970 and desperately need our help,” defined
“With 72% of the UK’s land area used for agriculture, the key to increasing biodiversity and reversing the decline in wildlife is held by those looking after this land.”
NFU President Minette Batters stated: “Alongside producing high quality, climate-friendly meals, our farmers and growers are the custodians of the nice British countryside and work exhausting to spice up biodiversity, create habitats for wildlife and supply further feeding for farmland birds. During this yr’s rely, 149 species had been recorded, together with 33 species from the Red List for Birds of Conservation Concern.
“I would encourage as many farmers and growers as possible to participate in the 2024 count, record how many farmland bird species you spot on farm and, importantly, submit your results to GWCT. This is always absolutely crucial in pulling together a vital national snapshot of the state of nation when it comes to our farmland birds.”
Teresa Dent CBE, chief govt of the GWCT stated: “You can actually make a distinction by participating and serving to us to grasp how our farmland birds are faring.
“By spending just half an hour in one spot on your shoot or farm, counting the birds you see and submitting your results to the GWCT, the results help us build a national picture of which species are benefiting from conservation efforts, and which are most in need of help.”
Signing up for the GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count is free and no specialist data or gear are required. In many locations, native chook and wildlife teams are working with land managers to assist them do the rely.
Find out the best way to get entangled within the GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count, 2 – 18 February 2024, on the BFBC the place downloadable chook guides are additionally available.
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