Breeding Birds Survey Project

Breeding Birds Survey

Detailed counts of moorland birds in the Peak District National Park take place every 14 years

We undertook bird surveys in 2004 and 2018

The area surveyed was about 500 km2, equivalent to 70,000 football pitches

Long term trends in bird populations

Project start date: January 2017

Project end date: October 2019

We co-ordinated the 2004 and 2018 surveys of breeding birds, on behalf of partners, to discover how a range of moorland birds are faring over time and whether interventions to benefit them are working. The latest findings were reported in October 2019.

The Peak District Moors Special Protection Area (SPA) is designated for several species of moorland birds. It is a statutory requirement that the SPA is surveyed regularly to monitor numbers of birds including golden plover, curlew, merlin, twite, dunlin, short-eared owl, red grouse, skylark and meadow pipit. The survey is an excellent opportunity to identify sites where birds breed successfully and the conditions they need.

First taking place in 1990 and again in 2004, the analysis of data from 2018 helpa us to understand how factors including land use, management practices and habitat types and condition, can influence bird populations. Comparing the results to the two previous studies also provides an insight into long-term trends. The results will enable us to inform the land-managing community about how they can help.

The latest survey took place during the bird-breeding season from April to June 2018. Specialist surveyors visited each moorland site twice – covering a whopping 500 square kilometres of moorland – to record the presence and behaviour of the birds. To keep disturbance of nesting birds to a minimum, only one person surveyed an area at a time.

The British Trust for Ornithology is analysing the survey data and are publishing its report in October 2019.

Peak District bird populations are of international importance, especially golden plover, curlew, merlin, twite, dunlin and short-eared owl,
Surveyors walked in a zig-zag across each 500x500m survey square, to record the presence and behaviour of birds
The 2018 survey was supported by funding from Natural England, the Moorland Association, National Trust, RSPB, Severn Trent, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water

Latest news on the Breeding Bird Survey: Landmark survey reveals moorland birds are thriving

Breeding Bird Surveys of the Peak District Moors 1990 - 2018, Research Note and Summary of Analysis

1990 - 2018 Peak District Moorland Breeding Bird Survey Report 2018 (without maps)

1990 - 2018 Peak District Moorland Breeding Bird Survey Report 2018

1990 - 2018 Trends in breeding bird populations of the Peak District Moorlands

1990 - 2018 Correlates of change in breeding bird populations of the Peak District Moorlands