News

Peak District Wader Recovery Project

Members of PAA staff were fortunate enough to be able to take part in the breeding wader monitoring surveys as part of the Peak District Wader Recovery Project during the spring and summer of 2013.

This involved conducting surveys, following the O’Brien and Smith method, within 77 kilometre squares across the South-west Peak area of the Peak District. These squares formed the wader “hot spot” areas identified in the previous surveys of the entire 300km+ area in 2009.

The key species were lapwing, snipe and curlew, however, golden plover were also recorded and reported on. The species saw mixed fortunes in what was an unusual late spring of 2013. Lapwing and snipe saw continued declines, whilst curlew and golden plover were seen to expand their ranges and numbers in the study area.

PAA’s report also looked in to the relationship between wader territories and levels and type of grazing and habitat characteristics, such as sward type and height.

Tara Challoner, the Wader Recovery Project Manager, has put together a newsletter summarising the results of the 2013 surveys for the south-west and dark Peak, with information for farmers and land owners in the Peak District. This can be accessed via the Peak District website www.peakdistrict.gov.uk

PAA offer a full range of consultant expertise relating to bird surveys and upland environments – please contact us for more information, or feel free to download one of our relevant fliers below:

Birds & Development
Habitats Regulations Assessment
Moor & Heathland
Peatland Survey & Evaluation