Help us in our brand new bird survey in the Peak District and play your part in making a real difference to national climate change initiatives. The survey is part of the Community Science Project and is open to everyone from young families to older walkers. It's easy to take part when you're out for a walk - all you have to do is keep an eye out for three key moorland species:
- swallow
- red grouse
- curlew
Send us your findings and we'll use them to find out how the birds are responding to climate change and how it's affecting the distribution and numbers of these iconic birds. For instance, swallows’ migration patterns may change with rising temperatures, red grouse may seek cooler habitats and curlews’ food sources may become scarce. By finding out what is happening we can understand better how to protect them.
The survey runs for the rest of the summer and into the autumn and will be repeated annually.
Survey postcards can be collected at Peak District National Park visitor centres in Bakewell, Castleton, Edale or Derwent, or downloaded here.
Pictures and descriptions of the birds are provided to help identification and you can jot down your sightings on the postcards. Submit your records online if you can at http://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/moors-for-future/bird-postcard
Alternatively drop your postcard off at the visitor centre, or stick a stamp on the postcard and mail it back.
The Community Science Project aims to involve local people and visitors in moorland conservation through scientific research in the Peak District National Park and South Pennines. We hope that local volunteers will be inspired to help look after the environment of their moorlands for the long-term. Volunteers are also already involved in bumblebee surveys – find out more.