Bird identification day ahead of census

The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) is hosting a bird identification day at its Scottish demonstration farm, writes Gemma Mackenzie.

The event takes place on Friday January 26 at Auchnerran Farm at Logie Coldstone, near Aboyne, Aberdeenshire.

It has been organised ahead of next month’s Big Farmland Bird Count, an annual census by farmers, gamekeepers and land managers on one day between February 9 and 18.

In last year’s count, which covers the whole of the UK, 970 participants took part, spotting 112 species of birds across more than 900,000 acres of farmland.

The three most commonly seen farmland bird species in Scotland last year were chaffinch, blackbird and robin.

“We are holding farmland bird ID days to help farmers recognise the birds they might see on their land and, by the end of the ID day, those attending should be able to identify our top-20 winter bird species.

“A colour ID guide will be provided focusing on birds that are harder to identify,” said GWCT head of lowland research in Scotland, Dr Dave Parish.

“We are hoping that the count will be even bigger this year,” he added.

“We do it to highlight the good work done by farmers and gamekeepers in helping to reverse the decline in farmland bird numbers, and want to help them to record the effect of conservation work that they do on their land.”

The event runs between 10am and 1.30pm and costs £10 to attend.

Tickets are available online at gwct.org.uk/bfbc or by phoning 01572 718730 on weekdays.

We are hoping that the count will be even bigger this year. DR DAVE PARISH