Cookstown Wildlife Trust

Winter Gull Survey (WinGS)

 

The BTO are running a Winter Gull Survey (WinGS) over the winters of 2023/24 and 2024/25 and are hoping to recruit volunteers. The last survey ran from 2003/04 to 2005/06 so this survey is long overdue as they had previously taken place approximately every ten years since the first such survey in 1952/53.

The Winter Gull Survey collects information about our wintering gull populations, through the coordinated effort of volunteer surveyors across the UK.

• The Key Date for 2024 surveys is January 21st.
• Counts can be conducted a week before and after, as close to this key date as possible.

WinGS volunteers visit gull roost sites, counting six key species: Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull. These gulls are all of conservation concern, and their breeding populations are either Amber- or Red-listed in the UK.

Gathering more detailed information about wintering populations, and which roost sites they rely on, will help us protect them and develop more effective conservation strategies.

• Find out how to volunteer for WinGS on the Taking part page.
• From here you can also find a link to the survey portal where you can check the Vacant Sites Map. You can also keep an eye on the BTO and WeBS social media accounts for updates, or contact the team at wings@bto.org

 

To find out more about any of the survey work carried out by BTO volunteers in Northern Ireland, you can contact your regional representative.

 

Regional Representatives (RRs)

There are RRs for six BTO regions in Northern Ireland, corresponding roughly with the six counties. The RRs are charged with finding volunteers within their "county", and then liaising with them about surveys and projects. They support volunteers and BTO members by answering queries, giving talks and encouraging participation. Contact details for our RRs can be viewed below:

• Antrim & Belfast - Adam McClure (adamdmcclure@gmail.com)
• Armagh - Stephen Hewitt (sjameshewitt@hotmail.com)
• Down - Kez Armstrong (kestrelsni@gmail.com)
• Fermanagh - Michael Stinson (mick.stinson@hotmail.com)
• Londonderry - Claire Hassan (clairehenry71@hotmail.com)
• Tyrone - Steven Fyffe (sfyffe@hotmail.co.uk)