In December 2024, Norfolk FWAG were awarded Farming in Protected Landscapes (FIPL) funding to deliver Farmland Bird ID training and increase engagement with the Big Farmland Bird Count (BFBC) within the Norther Broads Farming Cluster. The aim of the training sessions was to give farmers and landowners greater confidence to submit their own records on their land and engage with national schemes such as the BFBC. The legacy of this work is to establish a long-term monitoring strategy for the cluster group to help inform targeted conservation interventions. Conversations are underway with British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), who are able to provide funded support with the survey design.
A total of five training sessions were run during January and February 2025. Each session lasted 1.5-2.5 hours and consisted of a short walk around different broad habitat types. The focus was on how to identify key farmland bird species, but habitat management and population trends for various species was also discussed. The five sessions were attended by a total of 15 landowners, 7068 individual birds were recorded from 62 species, including 13 BoCC red list species, 19 Amber list species.
The walks covered arable land, wet grassland, woodland, reedbed, open water and a range of agri-environment options such as winter bird seed plots. In addition to the common farmland assemblage, we were treated to a large variety of species, some of which are emblematic of the region. The highlights included a flock of 29 cranes, flocks of 2,500+ pink footed goose, 300+ siskin, curlew, lapwing, bearded tit and peregrine falcon. This impressive range of species is due to the diversity of habitats found within the cluster and proximity to internationally important wetland sites, such as Hickling Broad.
The training sessions were concluded with a workshop, held at the Dairy Barns, Hickling on 11th March. The workshop commenced with a presentation by Norfolk FWAG Farm Conservation Adviser Evan Burdett summarising the ID sessions; this was a great chance to share our sightings from each farm with the wider group. This was followed by a presentation on monitoring of bird populations by Gavin Siriwardena, Head of Terrestrial Ecology at British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Gavin’s presentation also covered opportunities for long-term monitoring in the Broads. Conversations will continue with the group and we will work closely with BTO to devise and implement a bespoke monitoring strategy that is appropriate for the cluster group’s long-term objectives. The final presentation was delivered by Henry Walker, Farm Conservation Adviser at Norfolk FWAG, it covered ID tips for the key farmland species, their population trends, and how to optimise agri- environment options for the benefit of farmland birds. The event was concluded by a delicious lunch, courtesy of the Deane family at Dairy Barns.
If you’re interested in Norfolk FWAG conducting a winter bird survey, or ID training, on your farm or cluster group, get in contact with Evan using the details below.
