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Regional News for
East Glamorgan
Spring 2017
Dear BTO Supporter

Welcome to your East Glamorgan Spring 2017 newsletter.

Like many of you, we are looking forward to longer days, bringing with it opportunities to get out to do some more birding.  The breeding season is upon us and, for some, that means the start of monitoring breeding birds, be it herons, birds along our waterways and other habitats, house martins or nest recording.  Our bird ringers too, will be recording the breeding condition or perhaps putting up their nets for another year of constant effort monitoring.

On 26 March, we were pleased to hold our first local BTO Open Day at the Wildlife Trust for South and West Wales' Parc Slip NR. Members and volunteers joined us for day learning about various BTO surveys, followed by some fieldwork, practicing Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and nest recording methods in some glorious spring sunshine.  A presentation describing the great work being done to support breeding plovers around the reserve rounded off a great day.

Thanks to all participants who made the day a success.

Best wishes

Wayne Morris
BTO Regional Representative

Daniel Jenkins-Jones
BTO Assistant Regional Representative & Wetland Bird Survey Local Organiser
Glamorgan Bird Club hold their Big Birding Day on Sunday, 30 April 2017. Activities include guided walks, ringing demonstration, childrens' activities, and more.
Kenfig Ringing Group begin another Constant Effort Site season this April. This is a long-term study of birds breeding in the reedbeds at the national nature reserve.
An Introduction to Bird Identification event is being held at Parc Slip NR on 13 May 2017. The course includes indoor and outdoor activities, identifying birds by sight and song, survey techniques and how these may be applied to conservation. Summer migrant identification will be a focus.
The Glamorgan Rarities Committee provides news, status and occurrence of our region’s scarcer birds, including all BBRC and WRP decisions that affect us locally. Contributions from anyone with photographs, artwork or documentation of rarities past, present and future are welcomed.
Nest Record Scheme Taster Day, 2017
8:00am - 3:00pm
Sunday, 14 May 2017

Rudry Parish Hall
Rudry
Caerphilly
CF83 3DF

Have you ever considered becoming a BTO nest recorder but felt unsure about how to get started? After a successful event in 2016, we are running an introduction to nest recording once again in 2017.  The aim is to increase the number of birders in Glamorgan contributing to this valuable survey over the coming years.
 
Nest Record Scheme Taster Day, 2016

The day will provide an introduction to monitoring nests, how to follow the all-important NRS Code of Conduct to ensure that you’re monitoring does not influence the outcome of nests, as well as a few hours in the field for some supported practice searching for a variety of different species’ nests.

There will be a charge of £10 per person to cover costs.

Anyone can be a nest recorder.  It will add a new dimension to your birding, you’ll be making an important contribution to our knowledge of birds and it is personally very rewarding.

More information about the Taster Day, the Nest Record Scheme or to book your place, please contact Dan.
Survey News
House Martin
House Martin Survey
Across our region in 2016, five volunteers monitored 19 nests and BTO is looking to repeat the survey this year.

Anybody can take part provided they have a site with at least one nest that can be viewed for approximately 15 minutes regularly throughout the breeding season (i.e. approximately once a week although missing the occasional week due to a holiday is fine). 

In 2017, we would particularly welcome repeat surveys from sites and nests which were surveyed in 2016. Data from nests which were not surveyed in 2016 however, would be valuable too.
 
Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)
BBS is the main source of population trend information about the UK’s birds – an important indicator of the health of the countryside. The season begins once again on 1 April, and though we have good coverage in our region,  we are seeking volunteers to cover some of our sites.

The survey involves two visits to a 1-km square, to count all birds seen or heard while walking along two transects.  You don’t need to be an expert to take part, but you should be able to identify common birds by sight and sound. If required, a CD of bird songs and calls is freely available.

Contact Wayne if you'd like to get involved.
Your Holiday Records Needed

European Bee-eaterFieldwork for the European Breeding Bird Atlas 2 concludes this summer.  EBBA2 will map the distribution and abundance of Europe’s 500+ breeding species across more than 50 countries. Huge progress has been made already, but your records are still needed to fill gaps in coverage.

Some of the countries where gaps exist, including Portugal, Greece and Turkey, are regular destinations for UK birders. Others, such as Albania, Armenia and European Russia, are further off the beaten track. BirdTrack users can help by submitting records – with breeding evidence codes – from wherever they travel in Europe, using the global data entry tool or the new app.

Birders can find help on the EBBA2 website, or discover where coverage is poor by using BTOs newly launched Find the Gap mapping tool.

Copyright © 2017, Wayne Morris & Daniel Jenkins-Jones. All rights reserved.

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BTO Regional Network in East Glamorgan · 8 Hughes Street · Penygraig · Tonypandy, Wales CF40 1LX · United Kingdom

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