This newsletter was issued in Spring 2000; please see the main BBCBBS page for the current position.
Dear reader,
Welcome to the first newsletter of this exciting initiative - I hope that you find its contents of interest. I am pleased to report that the Breeding Bird Survey is going well - a big "Thank you" to everyone who has contributed records over the last two years. If you have not done so yet, it is not too late to send in records for 1998 and/or 1999, or to volunteer to survey an area this year. Please do get involved if you can.
Over 200 tetrads (2km x 2km squares) cover Birmingham and The Black Country, although for those that overlap the edge only that part within the area is included in the survey.
| Total number of records | 3,817 |
| Total number of breeding records | 1,745 |
| Number of species recorded | 107 |
| Number of Species breeding | 86 |
| Number of Tetrads surveyed | 144 |
| Number of Tetrads with breeding records | 126 |
The map shows the distribution of the 3,817 unique records across the area. Can you help fill in some of the gaps?
Species that have bred across Birmingham and The Black Country during 1998 and/or 1999 include Black Redstart, Peregrine, Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl, Lapwing, Snipe, Yellow Wagtail and Grasshopper Warbler.
| Species recorded in most tetrads | Magpie | 113 |
| Species breeding in most tetrads | Wren | 67 |
| Tetrads with most species recorded | SO98E - Fens Pool | 75 |
| Tetrads with most species breeding | SP09G - Forge Mill Lake | 51 |
The map below shows the distribution of Whitethroat records across Birmingham and The Black Country for 1998 and/or 1999. Birds were recorded in 75 of the 144 tetrads surveyed so far - some 51 %. Can you help fill in some of the gaps?
Breeding records
Seen records
Kevin Clements
Maps produced by EcoRecord, the ecological database for Birmingham and the Black Country.