Worcestershire Record No. 5 Nov 1998 p. 25
Worcestershire Regional Representative for British Trust for Ornithology
This important national survey has now been running for five years. The principal features of the BBS are:
| Random selection of 1x1km squares (national grid) from 83 BTO sampling regions spread across the UK.
| Standardised bird counts in each square between April and June
| An initial site visit to set up two 1 km line transects and to record habitat and land use.
| Two morning visits to count birds of all species seen or heard. Birds are recorded in three categories relating to the transect line.
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Field work is organised by BTO Regional Representatives (RRs) who, like most of the recorders, are volunteers. The record forms are collected by the BTO RRs, checked and forwarded to BTO for further checking and analysis
By 1998 just over 2,000 squares were covered nation-wide and the aim is 3,000!
The main objective of the survey is to follow year to year changes for as many species as possible and to publish the results. The results together with other BTO surveys are used to monitor changes and to sound alerts when a species is found to be declining. The BBS gives a much wider picture of more specise of birds than the long-running Common Birds Census
In Worcestershire we now have 51 1x1 km squares to cover and I am very grateful to all those who carry out the fieldwork. The table shows the squares and current recorders and the years in which surveys were made. The serial number represents the order in which the randomly selcted squares appears! Some squares have been difficult to cover.
I expect the BTO will send me more new squares for 1998 and I have a few vacancies so if anyone who like to have a go at this important survey please contact me. Tel 01386 710377, email zen130501@zen.co.uk.....I need you!
In the table: n= not surveyed. y=survey complete. y½= one visit only. - = not included in a particular year, as you can see more are added each year!
| Serial no. | 10x10km sq | 1x1 km sq | Current surveyor | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 |
| 1 | SO93 | SO9837 | GR Martin | n | y | y | y | y |
| 2 | SO86 | SO9861 | A Shepherd | y | y | y | y | y |
| 3 | SO96 | SO9467 | L Brown | y | y | y | y | y |
| 4 | SO85 | SO8152 | M Stephens | y | y | y | y | y |
| 5 | SO97 | SO9878 | J Holder | n | n | n | n | y |
| 6 | SO66 | SO6665 | S Grunsell | y | y | y | y | y |
| 7 | SO93 | SO9735 | J Wheeler | y | y | y | y | y |
| 8 | SO93 | SO9334 | J Wheeler | y | y | y | y | y |
| 9 | SO66 | SO6067 | J Coates | y | y | y | y | y |
| 19 | SO86 | SO8469 | P & MHumby | y | y | y | y | y |
| 11 | SO87 | SO8470 | P & MHumby | y | y | y | y | y |
| 12 | SP04 | SP0746 | N Cotter | y | y | y | y | y½ |
| 13 | SO93 | SO9630 | D Cramp | y | n | y | y | y |
| 14 | SO93 | SO9237 | MF Williams | y | y | y | y | y |
| 15 | SP04 | SP0243 | M Hodgson | y | y | y | y | y |
| 16 | SO97 | SO9476 | B Draper | n | y | y | n | y |
| 17 | SO85 | SO8354 | J Jones | y | y | y | y | y |
| 18 | SO74 | SO7444 | J Birkes | y | y | y | y | y |
| 19 | SP04 | SP0042 | M Hodgson | y | y | y | y | y |
| 20 | SO77 | SO7475 | M Taylor | y | y | y | y | y |
| 21 | SO84 | SO8745 | J Hodson | y | y | y | y | y |
| 22 | SO86 | SO8462 | P Gane | y | y | y | y | y |
| 23 | SO77 | SO7374 | M Taylor | y | y | y | y | y |
| 24 | SO84 | SO8642 | G Lowe | y | y | y | y | y |
| 25 | SO77 | SO7472 | D Evans | n | y | y | y | y |
| 26 | SO77 | SO7074 | RT Roberts | y | y | y | y | ? |
| 27 | SO84 | SO8549 | M Stephens | y | y | y | y | y |
| 28 | SO66 | SO6566 | S Grunsell | - | y | n | n | y |
| 29 | SO97 | SO9877 | J Holder | - | n | n | n | y |
| 30 | SO94 | SO9844 | F Peplow | - | y | y | y | y |
| 31 | SO86 | SO8865 | S Micklewright | - | y | y | y | y |
| 32 | SO95 | SO9454 | G Farmer | - | y | y | y | y |
| 33 | SO94 | SO9647 | F Peplow | - | - | y | y | y |
| 34 | SO97 | SO9971 | J Holder | - | - | n | n | y |
| 35 | SO97 | SO9278 | J Holder | - | - | - | n | y |
| 36 | SO95 | SO9057 | P Weekes | - | - | y | y | y |
| 37 | SO94 | SO9840 | J Lennon | - | - | y | y | y |
| 38 | SO84 | SO8249 | M Mitton | - | - | y | y | n |
| 39 | SO94 | SO9848 | D Ratcliffe | - | - | - | y | y |
| 40 | SO75 | SO7653 | I Duncan | - | - | - | y | y |
| 41 | SO66 | SO6160 | S Micklewright | - | - | - | y | y |
| 42 | SO76 | SO7461 | S Miles | - | - | - | y | y |
| 43 | SO66 | SO6061 | S Micklewright | - | - | - | y | y |
| 44 | SP04 | SP0347 | N Cotter | - | - | - | y | y½ |
| 45 | SO87 | SO8976 | J Summers | - | - | - | y | y |
| 46 | SO84 | SO8947 | K Heron | - | - | - | y | y |
| 47 | SO83 | SO8935 | - | - | - | - | n | |
| 48 | SO77 | SO7674 | M Taylor | - | - | - | - | y |
| 48 | SO84 | SO8847 | - | - | - | - | n | |
| 50 | SO77 | SO7778 | M Cooper | - | - | - | - | y½ |
| 51 | SO87 | SO8877 | M Cooper | - | - | - | - | y½ |
The results of BBS are published each year in BTO News (sent to all BTO members) and in yearly reports. The last is: Gregory RD, Bashford RI, Beaven LP, Marchant JH, Wilson AM & Baillie SR. 1998. The Breeding Bird Survey 1996-97. (Report number 3) BTO Research Report number 203). British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford. The report is sent free to all those who take part in the survey and is available from BTO for £5 which is expensive for 16 pages and a card cover!
As we go to press the government have announced that, amongst many criteria for measuring the quality of our lives, the numbers of wild birds is to be a parameter for assessing the quality of our environment. This recognition of the importance of BTO surveys give me great pleasure. All surveyors should feel proud...........! And lots more people should join the BTO.
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