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Breeding Bird Survey of the Peak District Moorlands

Purpose

Moors for the Future carried out an extensive bird survey in Spring 2004. We recorded the abundance and distribution of breeding moorland birds. This survey was a direct repeat of the Brown and Shepherd survey of the South Pennine Moors (1990) for the Peak District moorlands.

As bird populations are often excellent indicators of habitat quality, this survey forms a fundamental part of the Moorland Sustainability Baseline (assessing the current 'health' of the moors). The Sustainability Baseline will over time detect both positive and negative changes in habitat and species over the moorland areas.

Analysis

The bird survey provided data for analyses of overall population trends and changes in spatial distribution of bird species between 1990 and 2004. This helps to identify possible links between recreational pressures (vicinity of footpaths, visitor density), land management and bird populations. This in turn will advise on the best forms of management to protect these habitats into the future. The Peak Park Moorland Owners and Tenants Association, United Utilities, Severn Trent Water, Yorkshire Water, The National Trust, Peak District National Park Authority and Sheffield City Council all own and manage moorland areas and are partners in the Moors for the Future Project. So are English Nature, Defra, National Farmers' Union and the Country Land and Business Association, who all influence management of moorland areas.

Survey details

The survey was carried out between 1st April and 30th June 2004. The methodology followed the Brown and Shepherd survey (1990). This involved a surveyor visiting each 1km square twice during this period, once between early April and mid-May and once between mid-May and the end of June. Over 550 km2 was covered at a 1km2 resolution.

Surveyors

The survey was carried out by contractors Geoff Carr and Peter Middleton and their team of surveyors. They are experienced moorland surveyors and understood the concerns of people responsible for managing a grouse moor. The survey was carried out with minimal disturbance to breeding bird populations.

Image courtesy of Alan and Arleen Gladwin

Highlights

• curlews - good number
• ring ouzels back in usual nesting sites (voluntary closures of rock climbing routes on Stanage)
• golden plovers reasonable numbers, 2 pairs on MFF restoration sites (using heather brash bags as lookout!)
• stonechat increased in past few years (maybe due to mild winters, spreading from west)
• twite decreased over past few years, only few sites in Peak District (e.g. Edale valley)
  • probably due to loss of good feeding pastures (hay meadow converted to sileage, or for horse grazing)

Bird Survey report

Main body of the report
Please note that the appendix and maps will need to be downloaded separately (see below)
Appendices
Map of survey areas
Index to maps
Download maps here: 1 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 7a 7b 7c 7d 8a 8b 8c 9a 9b 9c 10a 10b 10c 11a 11b 11c 12a 12b 12c 13a 13b 13c 14a 14b 14c 15a 15b 15c 16 17 17a 17b 18 18a 18b 18c 19 20 21a 21b 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 appendix I appendix III

The data is currently being digitised, please contact the research team with enquiries.
Research Note No 1 (summarises the main findings)

A hard copy of the full report is available to purchase for £5 (plus £2 p&p). Please contact the Merchandising Officer:
T: 01629 816556
E: Lesley.Handley@peakdistrict.gov.uk

Useful links:

Peak Birds Project
Bird Facts

Vegetation survey of the Peak District moorlands - back to top

A vegetation survey on non-SSSI landholdings within the Section 3 Moorland unit of the Peak District National Park has recently been completed. More information to follow soon.