Snipe survey of key sites in Britain in 2006

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Description

This dataset contains the results from a survey of breeding snipe <i>Gallinago gallinago</i> on known snipe breeding sites throughout Britain. This is a repeat survey of breeding waders carried out in the early 1990s in order to understand the main factors contributing to the decline of snipe in Britain. The survey was carried out during the 1996 snipe breeding season on key sites throughout Britain. Snipe are a species of conservation concern and have suffered population declines. This survey was carried out by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Natural England.

Geographic Description

This survey covered 8 regions throughout England and Scotland. Historical data were collected in the early 1990s and the aim of the 2006 survey was to resurvey those sites that contained at least one drumming or chipping (displaying) snipe in the previous survey.<br /><br />

All records in this dataset are collated with summary 100m grid references of central grid reference points for sites surveyed

Data quality

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.

Methods

Breeding snipe were surveyed in all fields at each site on three visits using standard methods of maximum counts of birds heard displaying to estimate abundance (O'Brien & Smith 1992).

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) and Natural England in the use of this data.

Rights

CC-BY

Digitised records