Bird Surveys

Birds

In the UK, all wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

Under this legislation, it is an offence to:

• intentionally kill, injure, or take any wild bird
• take, damage, or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is being built or in use
• take or destroy the eggs of any wild bird

Additional protection is afforded to species listed on Schedule 1, which are protected from disturbance while nesting.

Other relevant legislation includes the Birds Directive and the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006.

Birds can be affected by a wide range of development activities, including:

• Loss or degradation of habitat, such as woodland, scrub, grassland, and buildings used for nesting
• Vegetation clearance during the nesting season
• Disturbance from construction activities, including noise, lighting, and increased human presence
• Impacts to important feeding, roosting, or nesting areas

Surveys may also be required to support conservation projects, changes in land use, or site management activities.

The optimal timing for surveys can be found in our ecology calendar.

If your Preliminary Ecological Appraisal identifies potential constraints relating to birds, further surveys may be required.

Adonis Blue can support you with all necessary surveys and mitigation.

Please note: Certain species-specific surveys (e.g. barn owl) have specific timing and licensing requirements. We recommend contacting us for tailored advice.