Cumbria Connect - bird monitoring
This project combines fieldwork and analyses to study the response of birds to wood pasture creation. Our team - including the student – will first perform counts in sheep-grazed pasture, grazed wood pasture, ungrazed wood pasture and mature broadleaf woodlands. Then, we will calculate metrics such as abundance, diversity and richness for these habitats.
Overview
This project combines fieldwork and analyses to study the response of birds to wood pasture creation. Our team - including the student – will first perform counts in sheep-grazed pasture, grazed wood pasture, ungrazed wood pasture and mature broadleaf woodlands. Then, we will calculate metrics such as abundance, diversity and richness for these habitats.
Contact: Mo Verhoeven: mo.verhoeven@rspb.org.uk
Closing date: 31st January 2027
Timescale: Fieldwork: 2 weeks in April and 2 weeks in May, analysis to follow
Location: Cumbria Connect - Lowther Valley - Wild Haweswater
Resources available: Accommodation, vehicle, equipment, training, data, access to RSPB reserves
Key rquirements: Driving licence essential. The student must also be fairly proficient at identifying bird species from audio and visual cues.
Background
Starting in 2019, much of the grasslands within Cumbria Connect have transitioned into woody habitat mosaics. We monitor the response of multiple indicators to this change: soil, vegetation, carabids, moths, and birds. We also monitor birds in grasslands that have not changed and in mature broadleaf woodlands that already have an established bird community. This allows us to investigate the potential biodiversity benefits of wood pasture creation in Cumbria and determine when these benefits may start to become apparent.
Methods and aims
We aim to calculate bird abundance, diversity and species richness across four habitat types. To achieve this, 120 point counts have been established (30 per habitat), with five-minute distance sampling surveys conducted in April and May to capture temporal variability. The student will assist with these bird counts, requiring good bird identification skills from visual and audio cues. They will also analyse data collected in 2027 and compare it with data collected between 2023 and 2026, before producing a report summarising the findings.
Learn more about this placement
To learn more about this placement, or to express your interest, please contact Mo Verhoeven: mo.verhoeven@rspb.org.uk