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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) – ongoing
The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) is the scheme
that monitors non-breeding waterbirds in the whole of the
UK. The principal aims of WeBS are to identify population sizes,
determine trends in numbers and distribution and to identify important
sites for waterbirds.
WeBS is jointly run by the
British
Trust for Ornithology,
The
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust,
Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds
and the
Joint
Nature Conservation Committee.
For more information about WeBS, go to
http://www.bto.org/survey/webs/index.htm
WeBS
counters wanted
We need people with good wader/wildfowl identification skills to take
part in the monthly WeBS Core Counts.
To find out more about how you might get
involved and help somewhere in Hampshire ….
for the coast, contact
for inland waters, contact
Langstone
Harbour
At the moment (Feb 2007) we particularly need people to help with core
counts in Langstone Harbour. These always take place on Saturdays and
usually last for approximately five hours.
Systematic counts have been made of waterbirds in Langstone Harbour
since the 1950s and the records have been and are used as the basis
for maintaining the designations of the site as an SSSI, SPA and Ramsar
site - without these designations the birds would be unprotected from
disturbance by development etc.
With a reservoir of sufficient counters, the commitment could be a
willingness to take part in just one or two counts per year, ideally in
the September to March period - presently, the same very few counters
take part in all twelve counts.
The counts are mostly made at the Hampshire Wildlife Trust's Farlington
Marshes LNR, Havant Borough Council's West Hayling LNR (previously known
as the 'Hayling Oysterbeds') and on Hayling Island.
The remaining 2007 WeBs Counts are due to take place on March 17th,
April 21st, 19th May, 16th June, 14th July, 4th August, 15th September,
13th October, 10th November and 8th December.
If you would like to help maintain the bird populations at Langstone
Harbour by agreeing to take part in some, or even all, of the counts,
please contact:
Chris Cockburn
Warden Langstone Harbour RSPB Reserve
Unit B3 WREN Centre
Westbourne Road
Emsworth
Hampshire
PO10 7SU
Phone/Fax 01243 378624: Home 023 92376874: Mobile 07764 290629
E-mail
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