Research & Surveys

Wildlife Site Bird Criteria

To demonstrate that a site meets the necessary criteria, it must be shown that the site has reached at least one threshold value within the last five years. The species in question should appear more than once and in at least two of the reviewed years.

Additionally, the site’s conditions should support the consistent achievement of this value, provided there is no intentional damage to the site.

The following appendices should be used to identify Wildlife Sites that are important for birds:

1. Qualifying levels for winter and passage birds. Sites supporting the required number of species or individual birds, as defined in Appendix 8a.
2. Breeding bird indices by habitat. Sites that support a range of breeding birds with a value equal to or exceeding the indices, as defined in Appendix 8b.
3. Colonial breeding species; this criteria can operate separately or in conjunction with Appendix 8b. Thresholds are for the number of pairs or nests. Grey Heron (3 or more), Common Tern (5 or more), Sand Martin (5 or more), Black-headed Gull (10 or more).

Appendix 8A Qualifying Thresholds for Winter and Passage Birds _January 2016_

App 8B Breeding Bird Indices by Habitat (revised Feb 2020)

Rare Breeding Birds _October 2020

Red List birds _ November 2020