For the past 3 years the GM Bird Recording Group has been supplying records of certain target species to the RSPB. The records cover the years 2002 - 2008 and are combined with data received from bird clubs across the country, to produce species distribution maps.

The maps are shared with Natural England and the Forestry Commission and used in England to target conservation advice and grants, such as Higher Level Stewardship.
They can be viewed on the RSPB website BCTP
Click on "view targeting maps" to the left of the page, and then use the dropdown lists to select North West England and a species.

There are 22 target species in North West England. These include Corn Bunting, Curlew, Grashopper Warbler, Grey Partridge, Lapwing, Tree Sparrow and Willow Tit.

The information on the BCTP pages refers to submission of records via BirdTrack. We would prefer you to send your records directly to the GM Bird Recording Group using the Excel form which can be downloaded from the Bird Recording and County Rarities section of this website. This will save us a considerable amount of time when importing records into the county database.

So, many thanks if you have sent in your records to GMBRG over the past few years. As you can see from the RSPB website, by doing so, you are making an important contribution towards conserving those species which are under threat. There are many other equally important uses that your records are put to. So, if you don't normally send your records, in why not make 2010 the year you start!

If you don't have Excel please drop me a p.m. as the recording form can be supplied in other formats.

Steve

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Sunday 8th of August 2010 05:26:16 PM