Both UK resident birds and wintering birds, which only visit during Autumn and Winter, crucially rely on habitats to provide them with shelter from extreme weather and sources of abundant food.
If a proposed development is expected to have a significant impact on a location with important winter food sources, winter bird surveys are needed.
How Many Survey Visits are Required?
Four bird survey visits are usually required, one per month, ideally conducted between November and February. A Wintering bird survey are designed to target-over wintering species that may not be present during the breeding season, such certain Waterfowl and Thrushes.