Bird Surveys and Mitigation

Durham Wildlife Services are highly experienced at carrying out the full spectrum of bird surveys. We also have experience of bird mitigation schemes and management strategies.

All wild birds and their nests and eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Certain birds, generally the UK's least common or most threatened breeding species, are listed under Schedule 1 of the Act. These are Specially Protected species, and offences against them are subject to special penalties.

Initial Survey

An initial bird survey will be carried out to assess how suitable the site is for breeding and wintering birds, during this time bird sightings will be recorded to get an overall sense of the site. A special emphasis is placed on the areas suitability for Schedule 1 and UKBAP species. A report which is suitable for planning permission will be published; this will identify potential impacts on protected species that may occur, suggest mitigation measures and any further work required. This report will be submitted with the planning application and the relevant planning ecologist for comment; if evidence of rare birds or bird breeding habitat is found, further surveys may be required.

Further Survey Work

After the initial survey further bird survey work may be required this may include

Wintering Bird Surveys

At least four visits between September and March (the key months are December, January and February) to record any notable assemblages of bird feeding and/or roosting species. These bird surveys are likely to be required near inland water bodies, marshes and costal estuaries.

Breeding Bird Surveys

Consisting of two to ten visits recording and mapping all bird species seen or heard and their behaviour, such as gathering material for nesting, feeding young, fighting and territorial calls. Bird surveys are undertaken using a BTO Common Bird Census technique ideally between the 1st April and 30th June.

Specialist Bird Surveys

Involves specialist bird survey techniques for individual protected bird species, such as barn owls, to gather more detailed population estimates and important bird habitats such as estuaries, SPA and RAMSAR sites.

Nesting Bird Survey

Bird nests can be searched for by hand immediately prior to development. This is a last resort and is only practical for small areas of scrub, individual trees and bushes. The number of visits will depend on the size and the importance of key bird species present from the initial survey.

Bird mitigation

If a nest is discovered during work all operations must stop until breeding has finished and work can only continue in a buffered zone large enough to prevent disturbance of nesting birds which may cause breeding failure.

Any work which is likely to cause disturbance to nesting birds such as scrub and hedgerow removal, lake and ditch clearance, building alterations and maintenance work must be take place outside the breeding season (1st March to 31st August).

Schedule 1 species require much greater care for and work may only be allowed when reckless disturbance will not affect the nesting species. If these species are disturbed then serious action can be taken against the development company and may lead to prosecution.