Scottish Crossbill National Survey in the UK in 2008

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Description

These are the results of the first national survey of Scottish Crossbill, in 2008. Common Crossbill and Parrot Crossbill were also included in the survey. This provides the first estimate of the global population of Scottish Crossbill.<br><br>

This survey was funded by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), and was conducted as part of the SCARABBS (Statutory Conservation Agencies and RSPB Breeding Birds Scheme) programme of surveys.

Geographic Description

National survey: Scotland<br><BR>

Data are reported at 1 km resolution, where the grid reference denotes the bottom left hand corner of the grid square.

Data quality

These data have been gathered by trained field-workers and the data are of a high quality. These data have been mapped and checked for sensitivities and typographical/geographical errors.

Methods

Sampling was based on 1 km grid squares, containing coniferous woodland at their centre; every fourth square was surveyed, resulting in 852 survey sites. Crossbills were lured to the sampling points by playing a Crossbill excitement call from a CD player. The responding birds were counted, and their calls recorded. No attempt was made to identify the Crossbill species in the field. Crossbill species were identified as Scottish Crossbill, Common Crossbill or Parrot Crossbill by playing back their calls, and identifying species-specific call-types. The species of crossbill at 63 locations could not be identified from the recordings; these records are present in this dataset as <i>Loxia</i> sp.<br><br>

In order to verify records and validate the dataset, the data have been mapped and thoroughly checked. Geographical checks have included comparing the distribution with that shown in the published paper and ensuring that records with the same area name are located close to each other.

Citation

Please acknowledge the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and SCARABBS in any use of the data.

Rights

CC-BY

Digitised records