BTO Winter Gull Survey (WinGS) 2024-25

CALLING KENT LAROPHILES!

Some key sites still not allocated or need more volunteers for this winter’s count – target date January 21st

The Key Sites concerned are: -

*Inner Thames (Gravesend-Dartford)

*Stour Valley

*Deal-Walmer

*Folkestone-Hythe

 Please read on for for further information…

The Winter Gull Survey collects information about our wintering gull populations, through the coordinated effort of volunteer surveyors across the UK. There will be a UK-wide Winter Gull Survey (WinGS) over the next two winters (2023/24 and 2024/25) funded by Defra and other country agencies. The last survey ran from 2003/04 to 2005/06 so this survey is long overdue as they had previously taken place approximately every ten years since the first such survey in 1952/53.

In winter, gulls flock together to roost communally on lakes, reservoirs and estuaries, in groups that can reach the thousands. The Winter Gull Survey will run over the winters of 2023/24 and 2024/25 to collect updated information on the numbers and distributions of these wintering gulls in the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The updated information is important in order to understand how wintering populations of gulls have changed over the last 20 years. Understanding how wintering populations are faring and identifying important wintering sites is vital to help protect these species. Furthermore, gulls have been impacted by the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and are among the species that may be a potential vector contributing to the spread of the virus. Hence, information about wintering gull numbers and their distributions will also be helpful in understanding the potential impacts on their and other species’ populations.

WinGS volunteers visit gull roost sites, counting five key species: Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull. These gulls are all of conservation concern, and their breeding populations are either Amber- or Red-listed in the UK.

Key roost sites

If you sign up to visit a key roost site, you will count gulls from a fixed point as the birds arrive to roost at dusk. You may do this alone or with a team of other volunteers, especially on larger sites. If your site is part of a larger team site it is important that you liaise with the team leader and carry out the count on the agreed date.

Roost counts at key sites will involve recording a large number of birds, some of which will continue to arrive during and after dusk. It is not expected that observers be able to identify all birds to species, and you will be able to record some gulls as ‘large gull species’ or ‘small gull species’ or even just as ‘gull species’. However, it is important that as many gulls as possible are identified to the species level. 

Sample squares

If you are visiting a sample square, either at the coast or inland, you will need to follow the same guidance, although sample sites are standalone sites and will not normally involve working with a team. 

Sign-up and survey dates

You can sign up for WinGS survey sites (both at key roost sites and sample squares) from the BTO website Winter Gull Survey | BTO - British Trust for Ornithology. To sign-up, you will need to log in to the WinGS portal to request sites. 

  • You will need a MyBTO account to log in to the WinGS portal. If you don’t already have one, you can create a MyBTO account now

The first count is due to take place on Sunday January 21st, although there is an allowance of a week either side.  

Later counts will be in September 2024 (date to be announced) and January 19th, 2025.

In Kent there will be a mix of coastal stretches, both estuarine and open sea, plus a few inland water bodies to be counted, principally the Stour Valley lakes and Bough Beech reservoir. It is hoped to use WeBS counters at many of the key coastal stretches, and some key inland sites, coordinated by the appropriate WeBS Local Organisers. However, more volunteers will be required to cover sample sites and to assist WeBS counters at coordinated counts of some key sites, where teams of counters will be needed. 

If you would like to participate in this survey, please sign up as above and request a site, or contact your WeBS Local Organiser who will advise on what to do (see below). 

WeBS Local Organisers in Kent;

Thames, Murray Orchard - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Medway, Bob Knight - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Swale, Brian Watmough - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

East Kent, Heather Mathieson - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pegwell Bay, Steffan Walton – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

Dungeness area, Dave Walker – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All other areas (including West Kent), Murray Orchard - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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