This exciting initiative aims to gather as much information as possible about breeding birds across Birmingham and the Black Country. It covers the local government areas of Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton, and is being supported by the West Midland Bird Club and the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country. The survey is one of the first of its type to be undertaken in such a built-up area and runs from 1998 to 2003.
Birds are good indicators of environmental quality, responding to changes in habitat, food availability or climate. Some species have declined as a result of our activities, whilst others have colonised new areas. Surveys are important in monitoring the population levels of species. If decreases are detected, it may be possible to identify and implement ways of reversing such trends.
During the years 1998 to 2002, a total of over 7,400 unique records have been gathered, with nearly 60% being breeding records. On average, about 38 species have been recorded in each tetrad surveyed.
Over 110 species have been recorded during the survey, more than 90 of which have bred, e.g. Buzzard, Peregrine, Water Rail, Lapwing, Common Snipe, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Long-eared Owl, Barn Owl, Stonechat and Black Redstart.
Not bad for such an urban area.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the most widespread species include Wood Pigeon, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling and House Sparrow, all recorded in at least 90% of the surveyed tetrads.
Virtually all of the 202 tetrads that cover Birmingham and the Black Country have been surveyed, although some have definitely been under-recorded. The few tetrads that have no records are on the edge of the survey area and often only contain a small part within them.
BBCBBS Newsletter No. 4 - Spring 2003.
BBCBBS Newsletter No. 3 - Spring 2002.
BBCBBS Newsletter No. 2 - Spring 2001.
BBCBBS Newsletter No. 1 - Spring 2000.