Bird Survey

Where a development is going to have a high impact level such as solar / wind farm projects, large housing schemes, proposals that are going to result in destruction / fragmentation of habitats on a site, they will be absolutely essential for any planning submission.

Bird Survey services from specialist surveyors.

Ecology by Design boasts an in-house team of ornithologists with extensive experience in conducting both breeding and wintering bird surveys. Our expertise extends to a variety of species-specific surveys, particularly for Schedule 1 species such as peregrine falcons, barn owls, and black redstarts. We collaborate across multiple sectors and partner with clients and landowners to develop and implement effective mitigation and compensation strategies. Our team provides clear, concise reports to support your planning applications, ensuring that your projects deliver meaningful ecological benefits for bird populations.

Why and when do you need a bird survey?

In the UK, wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), which makes it illegal to kill, injure, or capture wild birds. All wild bird nests and eggs are safeguarded while in use, with additional protection for Schedule 1 species against disturbance. Other relevant legislation includes the European Birds Directive (2009) and the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006).

These protections are crucial as bird populations in the UK remain at risk with the Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC), which tracks the conservation status of bird species, showing a continued decline across many species.

A bird survey may be required for a range of situations, including when submitting planning applications for developments that could impact bird habitats or species, particularly those that are protected or listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Surveys may also be necessary to inform conservation projects, changes in land use, or site management activities. These surveys help assess the potential impacts of proposed changes, ensuring compliance with legal protections and contributing to the conservation of bird species.

What does a bird survey entail?

An initial desk study can help establish whether a bird survey may be needed by looking at the context of the site, the potential habitats, local records and any potential connectivity to protected sites.

There are typically 2 types of bird survey: breeding bird surveys and wintering bird surveys (sometimes known as non-breeding bird surveys).

Breeding Bird Survey

As the name suggests, this is carried out in the breeding bird season between March and June. It is a detailed process that involves assessing the presence, abundance, and breeding activity of birds within a specific area. The survey needs to be carried out by appropriately trained specialists who know what to look for and how to identify species and their behaviour, especially those that might be vulnerable or protected.

The survey aims to establish a baseline of bird populations. It helps assess the potential impacts on breeding birds and their habitats, ensuring the development from the outset complies with wildlife protection laws.

Wintering Bird Survey

A wintering bird survey can take on a number of different forms, such as daytime walkover surveys, nocturnal bird surveys and recreational impact assessments. These can be suitable as a method to establish winter wader distribution and site use, and/or site use for roosting and foraging, especially valuable for certain geese species and farmland bird species. Wetland bird surveys are often carried out utilising vantage point techniques. These must be undertaken by suitably competent ornithologists between November and March.

Bird Survey Timing

Breeding bird surveys should generally be carried out between April and July, with the peak period typically in May and June, when most species are actively nesting. Surveys should aim to capture both early and late breeding periods to ensure as many species as possible are accounted for.

Wintering bird surveys are conducted outside of the breeding season and therefore typically occur between November and March. These surveys focus on the presence and abundance of birds during migration or wintering periods, when species may be more concentrated in certain areas, helping to assess the use of habitats by birds that may not breed in the survey area but use it for feeding, shelter, or migration.

Certain species-specific surveys may have different timing requirements. Therefore, we recommend contacting us for further guidance and advice if this is a relevant consideration for your site.

Out of Season

Survey Period

Full survey calendar

Out of Season

Survey Period

Full survey calendar

Bird Advice and Mitigation.

We also help and advise our clients with a broad range of different bird mitigation measures, including:

Fitting appropriate bird boxes to a site to encourage birds to nest away from areas where work is taking place
Creating alternative habitats to compensate for lost bird habitat, for example wild areas and green roofs
Ongoing surveys to monitor rare bird species on the Schedule 1 list
Flight line and collision risk surveying, for example on wind farm sites; and
Bird surveys for Ecological Impact Assessments