Help needed to count elusive bird species in East Lancashire (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Help needed to count elusive bird species in East Lancashire

9:15am Thursday 7th February 2013 in News

VOLUNTEERS are needed to help count the UK’s most elusive bird.

The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and the British Trust for Ornithology needs 1,000 people nationwide to survey woodcock.

Because of the birds’ secretive nature, there is uncertainty about the status of the species’ breeding population.

Dr Andrew Hoodless, an ecologist with the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, said: “This countrywide survey will help us measure the change in the size of the breeding woodcock population since our first major count in 2003.

“Woodcock have very specific habitat requirements in the breeding season and the survey will enable us to investigate how changes in woodland habitat and general land use over the past ten years have affected their numbers."

To take part in the survey, which will be held in May and June, visit bto.org/woodcock-survey