PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RSPB NATIONAL WILLOW TIT AND CARBON LANDSCAPE SURVEYS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
The following email has just been received from Simon Wotton (The RSPB Willow Tit National Survey organiser)
From: Simon Wotton [mailto:Simon.Wotton@rspb.org.uk] Sent: 24 March 2020 15:26 Cc: Paul Bellamy; Mark Eaton Subject: National Willow Tit survey - please consider that fieldwork is now stopped
Dear all
Following the Prime Minister's announcement last night on strict new guidelines to combat the coronavirus pandemic, it is best that the field season for the Willow Tit survey finishes now (3 weeks before the original end date).
Can I request that any survey data already collected be submitted, even if fewer visits were conducted than planned, including single visits?
We will be taking stock of this survey season over the next few months to decide if another field season in 2021 would be worthwhile - I will then update you on how this field season has gone and what our further plans may be.
I would like to thank you all for your help with this survey.
Stay safe.
Best wishes
Simon
This email and any attachments may contain material that is confidential, subject to copyright and intended for the addressee only. If you are not the named recipient you must not use, disclose, reproduce, copy or distribute the contents of this communication. If you have received this in error, please contact the sender and then delete this email from your system. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 207076 and in Scotland no. SC037654.
The RSPB is committed to maintaining your data privacy. We promise to keep your details safe and will never sell them on to third parties. To find out more about how we use your information please read our online Privacy Policy:
GM Local Record Centre said
Fri Jan 10 1:48 PM, 2020
In preparation for the 2020 Willow Tit survey season, the Carbon Landscape Citizen Science project is running 3 Willow Tit survey training workshops. This is the third year of the Carbon Landscape survey (which will be ongoing), and the second and final year of the RSPB national survey. So whether you have already taken part in the survey and would like a refresher on the methodology, or are keen to get involved for the first time in this important study, we look forward to seeing you at one of the workshops.
Cadishead, Salford - Wed 5th Feb
Wigan Flashes - Sat 8th Feb
Risley Moss, Warrington - Wed 12th Feb
Booking is essential as places are limited Willow Tit Survey Workshops Please note that you need to register with the GMLRC website and log on in order to reserve your place.
Survey squares in both the Carbon Landscape Programme area and across Greater Manchester can be requested from Request a Willow Tit Survey Squares
All survey data will be shared with the RSPB and the Cheshire/Lancashire Wildlife Trusts to support site habitat management for Willow Tits both nationally and locally.
-- Edited by GM Local Record Centre on Friday 10th of January 2020 02:25:59 PM
Yes, you are correct. Squares surveyed last year remain allocated to the recorder unless we are informed that you no longer wish to take part in the survey. So there is no need to request them again.
If you log onto the GMLRC website and go to the Citizen Science survey squares allocation map and select survey CL07 Willow Tits your two squares will show in purple.
I will email you shortly.
Steve
David Walsh said
Wed Mar 6 9:32 PM, 2019
Am I to understand that the squares allocated last year for the Carbon Landscape Survey remain allocated, or do we need to reapply?
GM Local Record Centre said
Wed Mar 6 2:24 PM, 2019
The Carbon Landscape/RSPB Willow Tit survey manual and recording forms are now available to download from the GMLRC website Citizen Science Surveys
There have been some changes to the draft versions circulated at the training workshops and from the 2018 Carbon Landscape survey, so please recycle any old copies you have and download the latest versions.
There is still time to sign up for a 1-km survey square (Carbon Landscape Citizen Science Project area) or tetrad (rest of Greater Manchester). The available squares can be viewed and requested here Willow Tit Survey Squares Select CL07 Willow Tit from the survey drop down menu.
Instructions for registering with the GMLRC website and requesting a survey square are attached.
Two visits are required between mid-March and mid- April. Visit 1 -15th to 31st March Visit 2 - 1st to 15th April
If you would like to borrow an MP3 player with the sound recording pre-loaded please email carbonlandscape@gmwildlife.org.uk
Thanks to everyone who has already signed up for the survey which will increase our understanding of Willow Tit distribution and numbers in Greater Manchester and lead to improved management of sites for our nationally important population.
-- Edited by GM Local Record Centre on Wednesday 6th of March 2019 02:37:29 PM
If you are passionate about Willow Tits and keen to contribute towards their conservation in the Carbon Landscape, and beyond, then please join us on one of the following workshops where you will learn how to survey for them using playback recordings of their calls and song. The data collected by Carbon Landscape volunteers will be supplied to the RSPB and used in the national analysis, as well as being put to good use by the Cheshire and Lancashire Wildlife Trusts who are managing local wildlife sites to support the species in some of its remaining NW strongholds.
Wed 6th Feb (10am to 3pm) Cadishead, Salford
Sat 9th Feb (10am to 3pm) Wigan Flashes LNR
Fri 15th Feb (10am to 3pm) Risley Moss SSSI, Warrington
Booking is essential as places are limited: To reserve your place please email carbonlandscape@gmwildlife.org.uk or telephone 0161 342 4121 if you would like more information[spoiler]
Our Red-listed endemic race of Willow Tit is the second-fastest declining bird species in the UK, after Turtle Dove, and is also monitored by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel (RBBP). RSPB, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and others have conducted research into the causes of decline, and eliminated a number of potential factors which seem unlikely to be driving the large scale declines. One of the potential causes that needs investigating further is whether deterioration in habitat quality is affecting this species. One of the main habitats that willow tits occupy in Britain is damp young woodland which is often short lived with sites frequently drying out and developing into mature woodland over 20-30 years. RSPB and other organisations, including Natural England, are currently trialling woodland management solutions for Willow Tit, and the species is part of the Back from the Brink HLF funded project involving the detailed study of daily movements and habitat use as well as habitat management.
However, due to the declining numbers, monitoring the species is becoming increasingly difficult. Data collected on Willow Tits are currently insufficient to enable robust population estimates, measures of change, or maps of current distribution to be produced; thus a national survey is needed if conservation work is going to be properly underpinned by evidence.
We are fortunate that Greater Manchester still holds an estimated 120 pairs, a significant proportion of the national population which makes it extremely important that the survey achieves a good level of coverage in our county. To avoid duplication of effort, the RSPB wishes to work with existing Willow Tit study groups and surveys across the country and fill in the gaps between these with additional coverage.
The Carbon Landscape Willow Tit survey was launched this year and volunteers have already collected data from 34 1-km squares. However, there are plenty of additional squares and tetrads which require coverage in 2019 and 2020. The Greater Manchester Local Record Centre will coordinate survey coverage across the ten GM districts and recorders will be able to submit their data online.
If you would like to take part in the survey and contribute to Willow Tit conservation in GM and nationally then there are two options: 1. Take on a 1-km square within the Carbon Landscape Citizen Science project boundary 2. Take on a tetrad (2-km square) elsewhere in GM The available squares can be viewed and requested here Willow Tit Survey Squares Select CL07 Willow Tit from the survey drop down menu. Instructions for registering with the GMLRC website and requesting a survey square are attached.
Two visits are required between mid-March and mid-April 2019 and involve a playback method using a standard (2-minute) recording of a combination of willow tit alarm calls and song and listening for a response. This has been successfully developed by the RSPB Willow Tit research project and the Lancashire Wildlife Trust and is used to identify the number of pairs present during the pre-breeding season when the birds are territorial.
If you would like more information about the survey please email carbonlandscape@gmwildlife.org.uk
-- Edited by GM Local Record Centre on Tuesday 11th of December 2018 12:31:44 PM
The following email has just been received from Simon Wotton (The RSPB Willow Tit National Survey organiser)
From: Simon Wotton [mailto:Simon.Wotton@rspb.org.uk]
Sent: 24 March 2020 15:26
Cc: Paul Bellamy; Mark Eaton
Subject: National Willow Tit survey - please consider that fieldwork is now stopped
Dear all
Following the Prime Minister's announcement last night on strict new guidelines to combat the coronavirus pandemic, it is best that the field season for the Willow Tit survey finishes now (3 weeks before the original end date).
Can I request that any survey data already collected be submitted, even if fewer visits were conducted than planned, including single visits?
We will be taking stock of this survey season over the next few months to decide if another field season in 2021 would be worthwhile - I will then update you on how this field season has gone and what our further plans may be.
I would like to thank you all for your help with this survey.
Stay safe.
Best wishes
Simon
This email and any attachments may contain material that is confidential, subject to copyright and intended for the addressee only. If you are not the named recipient you must not use, disclose, reproduce, copy or distribute the contents of this communication. If you have received this in error, please contact the sender and then delete this email from your system. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 207076 and in Scotland no. SC037654.
The RSPB is committed to maintaining your data privacy. We promise to keep your details safe and will never sell them on to third parties. To find out more about how we use your information please read our online Privacy Policy:
Cadishead, Salford - Wed 5th Feb
Wigan Flashes - Sat 8th Feb
Risley Moss, Warrington - Wed 12th Feb
Booking is essential as places are limited Willow Tit Survey Workshops Please note that you need to register with the GMLRC website and log on in order to reserve your place.
Survey squares in both the Carbon Landscape Programme area and across Greater Manchester can be requested from
Request a Willow Tit Survey Squares
The survey documentation can be downloaded from Willow Tit Survey Manual
All survey data will be shared with the RSPB and the Cheshire/Lancashire Wildlife Trusts to support site habitat management for Willow Tits both nationally and locally.
-- Edited by GM Local Record Centre on Friday 10th of January 2020 02:25:59 PM
Yes, you are correct. Squares surveyed last year remain allocated to the recorder unless we are informed that you no longer wish to take part in the survey. So there is no need to request them again.
If you log onto the GMLRC website and go to the Citizen Science survey squares allocation map and select survey CL07 Willow Tits your two squares will show in purple.
I will email you shortly.
Steve
There have been some changes to the draft versions circulated at the training workshops and from the 2018 Carbon Landscape survey, so please recycle any old copies you have and download the latest versions.
There is still time to sign up for a 1-km survey square (Carbon Landscape Citizen Science Project area) or tetrad (rest of Greater Manchester). The available squares can be viewed and requested here Willow Tit Survey Squares Select CL07 Willow Tit from the survey drop down menu. Instructions for registering with the GMLRC website and requesting a survey square are attached.
Two visits are required between mid-March and mid- April.
Visit 1 -15th to 31st March
Visit 2 - 1st to 15th April
If you would like to borrow an MP3 player with the sound recording pre-loaded please email carbonlandscape@gmwildlife.org.uk Thanks to everyone who has already signed up for the survey which will increase our understanding of Willow Tit distribution and numbers in Greater Manchester and lead to improved management of sites for our nationally important population.
-- Edited by GM Local Record Centre on Wednesday 6th of March 2019 02:37:29 PM
Carbon Landscape Citizen Science Project/RSPB National Survey 2019-2020
If you are passionate about Willow Tits and keen to contribute towards their conservation in the Carbon Landscape, and beyond, then please join us on one of the following workshops where you will learn how to survey for them using playback recordings of their calls and song. The data collected by Carbon Landscape volunteers will be supplied to the RSPB and used in the national analysis, as well as being put to good use by the Cheshire and Lancashire Wildlife Trusts who are managing local wildlife sites to support the species in some of its remaining NW strongholds.
Wed 6th Feb (10am to 3pm) Cadishead, Salford
Sat 9th Feb (10am to 3pm) Wigan Flashes LNR
Fri 15th Feb (10am to 3pm) Risley Moss SSSI, Warrington
Booking is essential as places are limited: To reserve your place please email carbonlandscape@gmwildlife.org.uk or telephone 0161 342 4121 if you would like more information[spoiler]
However, due to the declining numbers, monitoring the species is becoming increasingly difficult. Data collected on Willow Tits are currently insufficient to enable robust population estimates, measures of change, or maps of current distribution to be produced; thus a national survey is needed if conservation work is going to be properly underpinned by evidence.
We are fortunate that Greater Manchester still holds an estimated 120 pairs, a significant proportion of the national population which makes it extremely important that the survey achieves a good level of coverage in our county. To avoid duplication of effort, the RSPB wishes to work with existing Willow Tit study groups and surveys across the country and fill in the gaps between these with additional coverage.
The Carbon Landscape Willow Tit survey was launched this year and volunteers have already collected data from 34 1-km squares. However, there are plenty of additional squares and tetrads which require coverage in 2019 and 2020. The Greater Manchester Local Record Centre will coordinate survey coverage across the ten GM districts and recorders will be able to submit their data online.
If you would like to take part in the survey and contribute to Willow Tit conservation in GM and nationally then there are two options:
1. Take on a 1-km square within the Carbon Landscape Citizen Science project boundary
2. Take on a tetrad (2-km square) elsewhere in GM
The available squares can be viewed and requested here Willow Tit Survey Squares
Select CL07 Willow Tit from the survey drop down menu. Instructions for registering with the GMLRC website and requesting a survey square are attached.
Two visits are required between mid-March and mid-April 2019 and involve a playback method using a standard (2-minute) recording of a combination of willow tit alarm calls and song and listening for a response. This has been successfully developed by the RSPB Willow Tit research project and the Lancashire Wildlife Trust and is used to identify the number of pairs present during the pre-breeding season when the birds are territorial.
If you would like more information about the survey please email
carbonlandscape@gmwildlife.org.uk
-- Edited by GM Local Record Centre on Tuesday 11th of December 2018 12:31:44 PM