In order to monitor the population changes of priority bird species listed in the Nature in the Dales 2020 Vision, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) have been working in partnership to increase coverage of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) across the National Park.
BBS is a partnership citizen science project funded by the BTO, JNCC and RSPB which monitors population changes in bird species throughout the British Isles. The surveys are carried out by trained volunteers who revisit their allocated areas at specific times each year, recording their sightings of different birds in accordance with detailed survey guidelines.
We have been working with the BTO to promote this vital work in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, helping to organise virtual and face to face training sessions and recruiting volunteers to ensure high coverage of the Park is maintained each year.
The information obtained by these surveys helps to inform our prioritising of bird species for nature conservation in the Yorkshire Dales, enabling us to ensure our resources are targeted towards the species that need them the most.