This BTO-organised survey will cover the heathland specialist birds nightjar, woodlark and Dartford warbler in all breeding habitats rather than being a survey of heathlands so there are many squares available in Sussex that are on farmland or in woodland as well as on heathland habitats.
The survey will involve morning visits for woodlark during the period 15 February to 31 May, morning visits for Dartford warbler during the period 1 April to 30 June, and evening visits for nightjar during the period 25 May to 31 July.
The online survey application is now live so please look at the map at https://www.bto.org/our-
Most squares that will be covered by regular surveyors on the West Sussex commons and in the Ashdown Forest area have now been allocated so any remaining squares in these areas are open to anybody. There are squares available in these general areas:
South Downs north of Emsworth and Chichester
Eartham Wood and Houghton Forest
West Sussex commons and farmland around Midhurst and Petworth
Rewell Wood and Arundel Park
St. Leonards Forest
Tilgate Forest
Worth Forest
Paddockhurst Park
Wakehurst Place
Chailey Commons
Sheffield Forest
Battle Great Wood
Further information is available at https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/heathland-birds-survey or please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com if you have any questions.
