The BTO English Winter Bird Survey (EWBS) this winter will involve survey visits to randomly-selected squares that are dominated by farmland, and will assess bird populations using farmland and will also monitor the availability of food resources throughout the winter, providing national-scale monitoring of the effects of agri-environment scheme management on birds in winter (see www.bto.org/ewbs). The survey period will run from the beginning of December to the end of March, and between two and four visits are required during this period to count birds and also brown hares.

Existing BBS volunteers are able to sign up to take part in this survey in their own BBS squares, but there are plenty of available squares for other new volunteers (see below for just a selection); taking part in this survey this winter does not commit you to the BBS or to any breeding season surveys. Please contact me at hcrabtree@gmail.com if you are interested in taking part in this survey or would like more information, or register your interest using the availability map at www.bto.org/ewbs. The only requirements are that you can recognise common farmland birds by sight and sound, can record habitat details including crop types, and can commit to the required number of surveys this winter.

Please note that this survey will be running alongside the long-term Sussex Winter Bird Survey for this winter.

Helen Crabtree (BTO Representative for Sussex)

Selection of available squares (updated 3/12/2018):

SU7800 West Itchenor
SU7802 Chidham
SU9017 Heyshott
SU9113 West Dean
SU9228 near Blackdown
TQ0111 Houghton
TQ0124 near Kirdford
TQ0322 near Codmore Hill
TQ1606 near Sompting
TQ1904 Lancing
TQ2719 near Hickstead
TQ2916 Hurstpierpoint
TQ4716 near Isfield
TQ4806 Firle Beacon
TQ4938 near Blackham
TQ5435 near Eridge Station
TQ5511 Lower Dicker
TQ6419 Earls Down
TQ8722 Peasmarsh