Bird surveys

As birds are particularly susceptible to disturbance during their breeding season they are protected in Ireland by the Wildlife Act (2000). The EU Birds Directive (1979) also provides specific legislation aimed at birds. Species listed in Annex I and migratory species are subject to special conservation measures to protect their habitat, through the establishment of Special Protection Areas (SPAs).

Bird surveys are a requirement of many EIS and pre-planning ecological impact assessments and are imperative for an Appropriate Assessment of any development which may affect SPAs.

Our team of dedicated ornithologists have extensive knowledge of surveying methodologies for:

• Breeding bird surveys
• Common Bird Census including territory mapping
• Flight line surveys (vantage point) for wind farm appraisals
• Annual monitoring (both long and short term) of sensitive sites
• Wintering bird surveys
• Coastal and wading bird surveys
• Farmland bird surveys
• Mapping and transect surveys

There are also occasions when it is necessary for single species surveys (i.e. hen harrier, red grouse, corncrake, short eared owl, barn owl, merlin) to be conducted. Bird surveys carried out by ECOFACT are undertaken by professional ecologists with recognised ornithological experience and expertise in this field. All survey results are recorded following accepted international standards and protocol.