Take part in the GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count and make a real difference to the UK’s songbirds - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
4-20 February 2022 bfbc.org.uk. Follow on Twitter #bfbc Sponsored by the NFU
A call has gone out to the UK’s farmers, gamekeepers and land managers to take part in the GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count from 4-20 February 2022.
“Farmers and gamekeepers are vital in helping to ensure the survival of many of our cherished farmland bird species such as skylark, yellowhammer, corn buntings and wild grey partridges,” said the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Dr Roger Draycott, who runs the count. “They are responsible for managing the largest songbird habitat in this country on their land, so they are in a position to make a real difference.”
The Big Farmland Bird Count has been organised by the GWCT every year since 2014 to encourage farmers and gamekeepers to support farmland birds and highlight the hard work already done by many of them to help reverse species’ declines. The count also gives a vital national snapshot of the health of the UK’s birdlife.
For the fourth year running 2022’s count is sponsored by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), demonstrating the farming community’s commitment to conserving farmland birds. NFU president Minette Batters, said: “2021’s results were fantastic with farmers and growers across the country responding to the count in record numbers. Not only are farmers producing climate-friendly food, they are also maintaining and protecting the great British countryside, creating habitats for wildlife and additional feeding for farmland birds. I encourage all farmers to get involved in the 2022 GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count.”
2,500 counts were completed in 2021, an impressive increase on 2020 when 1,500 count forms came into the GWCT. And the area covered by 2021’s count was a massive 2.5 million acres of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, up from 1.4 million acres the year before.
“Now we are challenging the UK’s land managers to beat their own record and make 2022’s count bigger than ever,” said Roger Draycott.
To take part: Simply download a count sheet from bfbc.org.uk and spend just 30 minutes between 4 and 20 February counting birds on one spot on farm, plus a few minutes inputting results via the website
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Posted On: 14/01/2022