Feb 28, 2011

Birdwatch West Cork - Buzzard soaring survey

Dear All,


The Irish Raptor Study Group is organising a Buzzard pre-breeding soaring
survey in RoI in 2011.
Attached are survey instructions and list of 10km
squares. The survey is deliberately simple, 1 hour vantage point to cover
a tetrad or greater with a minimum of 3 tetrads per 10km square. The survey
dates are 24 Feb-17 April and cover the period when buzzards are
particularly active, soaring and display and calling as pairs in and
around territories so give us a real opportunity to get a accurate estimate of
buzzard breeding densities. Hopefully we can repeat this in 5 years and
get a better handle on the rate of colonisation of unoccupied squares and
indeed increases in density in already occupied squares. We are particularly
interested in coverage in "edge" and "empty" squares.
Please see the attached Excel list. Squares in red are considered CORE
squares while the yellow squares are considered EDGE squares while the
white squares are considered EMPTY squares.

Some squares have already been allocated but there is still plenty scope
for participation. Please also pass this information to any others who would
be interested.
Link -
www.goldeneagle.ie

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