Farmland Bird Count 2016 What Will You Find On Your Land?

The Ring of Gullion is delighted to be supporting the Game Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Big Farmland Bird Count 2016, which will take place from Saturday 6 February to Sunday 14 February.

The GWCT’s Big Farmland Bird Count began in 2014 to encourage farmers to identify and record the number of species seen on their land. In 2015 over 950 farmers took part, recording 127 species. The aim is to make this year’s count even bigger and encourage even more farmers to take part in this exciting initiative. This is a great opportunity for farmers across the Ring of Gullion to showcase the great conservation work being undertaken in the area.

Farmers will need to spend just 30 minutes on any one day recording the species and number of birds seen on one particular area of the farm. Ring of Gullion Conservation volunteers will be available to carry out the survey on any interested farmer’s land if they do not have enough knowledge or time to spare.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Mickey Ruane said, “It is a great opportunity to show the impact Integrated Farm Management is having on the numbers and diversity of farmland birds. It is also a great way to show what can be achieved by the adoption of simple management techniques to improve habitats and bird numbers. Farmers play a vital role in the survival of farmland birds and the Big Farmland Bird Count gives them an opportunity to show what their conservation efforts are delivering on the ground.”
Farmers and gamekeepers who want to improve their identification skills ahead of the event can attend a Farmland Bird Identification Day on 26 January in Portloughan House, 42 Audleystown Rd, Strangford. Experts from GWCT and other conservation organisations will be in attendance to provide information on the types of species, how to identify them by sight and sound and how to help those species become more common on their farms. Admission is £10 and to book a place visit www.gwct.org.uk/farming/big-farmland-bird-count.

If you would like a Ring of Gullion Conservation Volunteer to carry out the Farmland Bird Survey on your land contact the office by emailing info@ringofgullion.org, visit our website www.ringofgullion.org or telephone (028) 3082 8590.