Saving wetlands for wildlife & people
Saving wetlands for wildlife & people
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Waterbird MonitoringLatest NewsIntegrated Waterbird
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The UK is particularly important for a number of goose and swan populations during the non-breeding season, and supports more goose populations at this time than any other country in the African-Eurasian flyway. Standard waterbird monitoring methods (Wetland Bird Survey Core & Low Tide Counts) are not especially suitable for many geese and swans, since these birds are mainly found away from wetland areas during the daytime, when WeBS counts are conducted. However, some species, such as Brent Goose, do remain close to wetland areas and are therefore monitored adequately by WeBS counters. The Goose & Swan Monitoring Programme (GSMP) thus comprises a suite of surveys designed to accurately assess the 
abundance of goose and swan populations for which the standard WeBS
methodology is unsuitable. Furthermore, it also includes surveys
designed to monitor other demographic parameters (productivity and
survival).
A
number of these surveys, primarily for those populations where a high
proportion occur in the UK, are conducted at a flyway scale.A number of factors influence abundance, productivity and survival in waterbirds. The most important of these is weather. Information on weather conditions from Arctic breeding areas is available, along with assessments of rodent abundance and breeding success, from the International Breeding Conditions Survey on Arctic Birds (ABBCS). A number of other organisations also support and participate in this monitoring work. We are particularly grateful to the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the UK Government's advisor on nature conservation, for its continued financial support for the Goose & Swan Monitoring Programme (on behalf of the Countryside Council for Wales, Department of the Environment Northern Ireland, English Nature and Scottish Natural Heritage). Please contact the Species Monitoring Unit at WWT Slimbridge if you require any further information about any aspect of the GSMP.
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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT
T: +44 (0) 1453 891900 E: enquiries@wwt.org.uk
Registered Charity no. 1030884
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