Wild Bird Surveys and Mitigation

Wild Bird Surveys and Mitigation

Wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and cannot be killed, injured or taken except under license. Birds breed during the spring and summer months and during this time they are very vulnerable to impacts on nests and eggs.

Nesting birds are also protected under the Act which makes it an offence to kill, injure or take any wild bird or take or damage or destroy its nest whilst in use or being built, or to take or destroy its eggs.

In addition to this, for some rarer, endangered, declining or vulnerable birds (listed on Schedule 1 of the Act), it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb them while they are nest building or are in, on or near to the nest with eggs or young, or to disturb the dependent young of such a bird. The penalties can include a fine or imprisonment or both.

Bird Surveys can be undertaken throughout the year, and a range of surveys undertaken at different times of the year will record different bird populations of over-wintering, breeding and migrant birds. EcoSurv has substantial experience in ornithological surveys and bird mitigation schemes including working with the Civil Aviation Authorities on bird management strategies to avoid bird strikes. If you think that birds may be a constraint to your project or you have been asked to commission a bird survey then contact us.