Schedule 1 Birds

Description

How do we protect wild birds?

To reduce disturbance to breeding birds, all coupes (areas of forest that have been identified for works) are surveyed prior to forest operations. We also check historical records to assess if protected species are known to have nested in that area previously.

We always take account of the different needs and sensitivities of protected species we identify. Depending on which species it is, we may avoid working in the same area as a nest site or delay our operations to a later date.

Small-scale disturbance, large-scale improvements

Well-managed forests are good for wildlife, including birds, and we are gradually improving our forests for wildlife by providing a more varied structure, such as different ages and species of trees in certain areas.

A diverse forest structure provides habitat suitable for more bird species. It will come as no surprise that areas of continuous-cover forestry (where the area is never completely cleared of trees) provide great bird breeding sites. However, even areas that have been clear-felled, which may look quite barren, are important too. They provide habitat for the nightjar as it closely resembles their natural lowland heath habitat which has declined considerably in the last two hundred years.

Nearly 20,000 hectares of ancient woodland on the estate we manage has now been improved for biodiversity. Many of these areas, previously planted with conifers, are now in the process of being restored. It’s a slow process but the results are worth the wait.

Whilst some work in the forest may have an impact on small numbers of birds and animals, improving the forest structure will have a really positive contribution to supporting those populations in the long-term.

Forest operations, such as felling, always mean some localised disturbance. However, the area affected is usually very small compared to the total area of undisturbed forest. Most birds and animals will move into these other areas when work starts.

This list was first uploaded by James Broom on the Wed Dec 13 16:39:23 UTC 2017.It contains [totalRecords:16, successfulItems:16] taxa.

Type of content

Includes: species list.

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