The Bird Atlas 2007-2011 fieldwork is now well under way, and has got off to a great start with birdwatchers all over Sussex doing Timed Tetrad Visits and collecting records. If you missed getting involved at the beginning, it’s never too late to start recording your bird sightings, or why not sign up for a tetrad to survey in the breeding season? See the surveys section of this website for more information.

Alternatively, why not consider taking part in the BTO Breeding Bird Survey in the spring? Because the BBS monitors long-term changes in bird populations, it continues through the period of the Atlas, and beyond… this is especially important in Sussex since the expansion of the BBS in Sussex in 2005. The number of 1-km squares being surveyed each year is now sufficient for the eventual calculation of population trends within Sussex for about 40 common species – but we need to keep up the good work! In 2005, 105 squares were surveyed in Sussex; in 2006 the number increased to 122; and this year the total looks like being about 124 squares.

Inevitably, after completing their survey work this year, some volunteers have decided that they are unable to continue next year – so new volunteers are needed! If you volunteer to take part in the BBS, you will be allocated your own 1-km grid square, which will have been randomly selected by the BTO (and which should not be confused with the tetrads being surveyed for the Atlas). You will then visit the square three times during each breeding season, once to record simple habitat data, and twice to walk a fixed route recording birds seen and heard. It’s possible to do the BBS in addition to the Atlas surveys, and all BBS data will also be incorporated automatically into the Atlas distribution maps.

The squares for which volunteers are currently needed for the 2008 season are:

SZ7898 West Wittering
SU7409 Southleigh Forest, Havant

SU8027 Rake
SU8029 Liss Forest
SU8615 West Dean Woods
SU9816 near Bignor

TQ0124 near Wisborough Green
TQ1004 Durrington

TQ5309 near Arlington
TQ5736 Hargate Forest, Tunbridge Wells
TQ7311 north of Bexhill
TV6099 central Eastbourne

If you would like to volunteer, or want to find out more, contact Helen at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or on 01444 441687. There is also lots of information about the BBS at www.bto.org/bbs. Other squares nearer to where you live might become available before the spring, so please get in touch if you’re interested.

New or recent BBS volunteers are invited to attend a training day on 1st March 2008, to be run by the SOS at Plumpton Agricultural College. The day will cover the methods used in the BBS, including habitat surveying, and will involve an outdoor practice session. It will also be a good opportunity to meet other volunteers. The training day is by no means compulsory, but should be fun and informative. Contact me to find out more or book a place.

Helen Crabtree, BBS Regional Organiser