D J Poulter

The table shown below contains data derived from the British Trust for Ornithology's UK - wide Breeding Birds Survey. This Survey has now replaced the Common Bird Census as the main monitoring tool for common birds in the UK. Its primary purpose is to provide population trends for a range of common and widespread species. This survey has taken place annually since 1994. The Survey is supported by the Government's Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Survey plots are based on 1 km. squares, chosen on the basis of a stratified random sample. Once identified it is intended that the same squares be surveyed annually. Sampling of birds takes place along two 1 km. transects on two early morning visits between April and June. Details of habitat and habitat changes are also recorded. Each survey requires about five hours fieldwork per year.

For the 1999 Survey the BTO identified seventeen squares for surveying in Carmarthenshire. Of these, ten were surveyed. Shortage of volunteers prevented survey of the remaining squares. The ten squares are well-distributed across Carmarthenshire and contain a range of mainly farmland and wooded habitats. Unenclosed upland and coastal habitats were not covered by the 1999 surveys.

The figures given in the tables include totals of the higher of the two counts of adult birds made in each square. These figures are ranked in order of abundance. An indication of how widespread species are is given by the frequency with which species are recorded in the different squares.

Conclusions:

To some extent the above data confirm commonsense expectations of bird distributions and numbers following a series of mild winters. It is pleasing to note the widespread distribution of species such as Buzzard, Song Thrush and Willow Warbler. Conversely it is disappointing to see that the species characteristic of Carmarthenshire such as Dipper, Redstart and Wood Warbler occur in so few of the sampled areas. A few, less conspicuous but presumably widespread, species do not occur in the table. Notable examples are Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl and Willow Tit. The complete absence of waders such as Lapwing and Curlew may be reflection of general decline of the breeding populations of these species in the UK.

The low recorded numbers of less common species prevents identification of bird populations characteristic of, for instance upland or lowland areas of Carmarthenshire, and the picture presented is one of fairly consistent uniformity. Clearly surveying additional

sample squares in the County would not only help meet the BTO's targets (designed to allow proper statistical analysis at the all-Wales level) but would also aid local understanding of Carmarthenshire's bird populations.

Anyone requiring further information, particularly anyone wishing to participate in the Breeding Birds Survey, is very welcome to contact the author (see title page).