<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Lancaster and District Birdwatching Society Newsletter
Newsletter of the Lancaster and District Birdwatching Society
Mute Swan Survey - - - 2004
June 2004
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The North West Swan Study Group is responsible for ringing Mute swans in the North West of England, roughly from the Manchester Ship Canal in the south to Grasmere in the north and east to west from the Pennines to the coast

We are keen to obtain the help of members of LDBWS to undertake a survey during the coming months, the primary objective of which is to locate breeding pairs of mute swans in our area, and to examine sites that we have not looked at before, i.e. new fishing ponds, etc. We are aware that some pairs of swans are now starting to nest on quite small bodies of water that they haven't previously occupied which we would be keen to have included in the survey.

The secondary objective is to locate any swans in our area, whether they are ringed or not. If they are ringed and you can read the rings, it will be of great assistance.

Details required are as follows: -

As well as metal BTO rings the study group uses mid blue, plastic rings engraved with 3 white characters, either a number and 2 letters  (e.g. 4AU) or 3 letters. (E.g. AFF). Less frequently other colour/number combinations from other study groups may also occur which we would be interested to receive details for.

Surveys

1)   Date seen.
2)   Site - name and grid reference (if possible).

a)   Please note the nearest car access/appropriate footpath.
b)   Site owner or contact.

3)   Swan identity (if ringed).
4)   Whether in the company of other swans (ringed or un-ringed)
5)   Date of egg laying and hatching and relevant numbers would also be appreciated if available.
6) With respect to mobile pairs e.g. on rivers and canals, if possible follow up information as to numbers of cygnets surviving and their location in early to mid august would assist us in locating them for ringing.

Contact can be either by letter, by telephone or by e-mail: -

Sheila & Mac Cooper,
8, Kirklands Road,
Over Kellet,
CARNFORTH,
Lancs.  LA6 1DP.       
Telephone number 01524 - 733787                                                                                                                 
E-mail  -sheilaandmac@northwestswanstudy.org.uk

If possible, it would be very helpful if the nest site could be monitored and success/or otherwise of breeding recorded.

We would appreciate information from yourselves, or your friends, perhaps from your favourite walks. Even any background knowledge that at XYZ, there's often a pair nesting, particularly if the location is "off the beaten track" may be of assistance.

We would respect any "privacy" requirements and always contact the owner to seek permission to access a site.

The ringing details of each swan reported will be supplied to each recorder at the end of the survey.

For further details about the North West Swan Study, please contact the group leader, Wes Halton at the address below: -

6 Hilary Grove
Farnworth
Bolton
BL4 9NA
Tel 01204 709302 or 07971 074522
Email info@northwestswanstudy.org.


*** BTO SURVEYS ***

Just a reminder that there are a number of ongoing surveys for which the Society still needs helpers:  Breeding Bird Survey, Waterways Survey (a walk along a river), Heronries survey, Nest Record Scheme (desperately in need of helpers), the ever popular Garden Bird survey, House Sparrow Survey, Wetland Bird Survey (monthly "wader count" at the coast), Nightjar Survey.

If you'd like to help on any of these surveys or accompany an existing surveyor to see what it's all about, contact Keith Woods, our BTO Rep, on 01524 811478 or email woods.keith@btopenworld.com




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