Breeding Bird Survey 2021

In recent years up to 2020, coverage had been running at or just under 40 squares for the BBS and four WBBS sites. Last year Covid-19 restrictions prevented early season visits but a remarkable 75% of allocated BBS squares did have late season visits, with three of the WBBS sites covered too.

Although not all regular surveyors have confirmed, I do know that the following sites are available:

• SE5974 – Martin’s Plantation, near Yearsley;
• SE6169 – north of Farlington;
• SE7774 – Swinton Ings;
• SE7839 – Seaton Ross;
• SE7961 – Acklam Wold;
• SE6750 – south of Dunnington. 
• Furthermore, there is a WBBS site along the River Ouse from York south to Naburn. 

Please contact me to volunteer and for more information.

Breeding Waders of Wet Meadows 2021

The Breeding Waders of Wet Meadows was originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed to 2021 because of the pandemic. The BTO is currently planning for it to go ahead this spring, but this is obviously dependent upon the Covid-19 restrictions permitting at the time.

There are around 90 sites in the list for the York Region to get covered, about half are priority, so there is plenty of opportunity for involvement. Some of these are known important sites, others are selected Lapwing plots on farmland. The survey requires three visits between mid-April and the end of June, with an extra visit if the site has Snipe.

Please visit BTO website to see the site request map and read about the details of the methods https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/breeding-waders-wet-meadows