Help Our Local Birds - Farmland and Wetland Birds Recording
On summer mornings imagine hearing the gentle purr of a turtle dove, the jangling song of a corn bunting, or the insect-like trill of a grasshopper warbler. These birds are part of our local countryside but have declined dramatically in our lifetime. Turtle doves alone have declined by 95% since the 1970’s.
Our Farmland & Wetland Birds Recording Project brings together local volunteers to record and monitor these and other species, helping build the knowledge needed to protect them for the future.
Our mission is simple: to record, understand and protect the birds that make our countryside special.
Our Impact
2025 marked our third year recording
birds to build a picture of our local birdlife,
with 5,268 bird records submitted and
116 different bird species recorded.
This incredible effort by our dedicated
team of volunteer recorders provides
valuable information about the birds living in,
migrating through and relying on our landscape.
Below are just a few of the species you might see. Visit our Citizen Science pages for more.
Why This Work Matters
The decline of our bird populations is caused by changes in land use and habitat loss.
Our farmers, landowners and conservation organisations can use our records to help protect wildlife while managing the countryside sustainably.
Supporting UK Conservation
As part of a nationwide community of over 12,000 birdwatchers, our records are submitted to BirdTrack, a recording system run by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) in partnership with other conservation organisations across Britain (and Ireland).
Its database of 9+ million records from 400+ bird species helps scientists understand migration movements, species distributions and long-term population trends, providing vital evidence for conservation.
Join the Team
Our project relies on the enthusiasm of local people who enjoy nature and we are always keen to welcome new volunteers.
Joining an experienced volunteer on one of our survey routes is a good way to get started. They will help you identify by sight and/or sound the birds you encounter and introduce you to BTO’s recording methods.
If you would like to learn more about the project or start recording birds locally, we would love to hear from you.
Email: BensonAreaNature@yahoo.com
By working together locally and with the broader Birdtrack community we can help ensure that species such as turtle dove, corn bunting and grasshopper warbler remain part of our countryside for generations to come.
