This survey is being co-ordinated Nationally by Joint Nature Conservation Committee's Seabirds and Cetacean Team, and guided by a Steering Group comprised of members of JNCC, Seabirds Group, RSPB and other National Organisations. It is the third census of all breeding seabirds in Britain and Ireland, following the Seabird Colony Register of 1985-87 and Operation Seafarer in 1969/70. It aims to answer a number of questions.
As part of this Survey in Sussex, we are carrying out a survey of all rooftop-breeding gulls in 2000. This will be organised on a local basis through the 10km square steward scheme and counts will take place in late May to early June. Clearly most activity will occur in the coastal towns, but many birds are now nesting further inland. Herring gulls, which constitute the great majority of rooftop-nesters, have been observed breeding not only on high rise buildings, but more recently on low roofs as well.
How can you help?
Counting these birds will take ingenuity and require the observation of most of the streets in towns with rooftop nesting gulls. The Sussex ornithological society has a large and active membership, but this task really needs every extra volunteer helper it can get. If you would like to help please e-mail our Surveys Officer surveys@susos.org.uk