Nest Recording - 2011

Throughout the summer I have been Nest recording as part of the Nest Record Scheme (NRS), run by the British Trust for Ornithology. Nest recording takes up a lot of time and effort but the rewards are hugely beneficial! The data collected is used to produce trends in the breeding performance, which helps us to identify any species which may be declining because of the problems at the nesting stage.

From the beginning of April I began nest recording right up until the end of August.

This year has been an awfully succesful year as I have managed to put in a lot of time and effort and have reaped the rewards. The above 2 pictures are of a Wood warbler nest which I found at Aber Falls this June, containing 6 Warm eggs and 1 of the 6 Wood Warbler chicks that was ringed from this nest.

The 2nd rare nest I found this June, was this Tree Pipit nest containing 3 large chicks, ready for fledging.

A closer view of the chicks, peeping out of the nest hole hidden perfectly under a sloping embankment in the hills above Abergwyngregyn.

Many other nests were found this year including several Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch and Goldfinch. I also managed to find my 1st Whitethroat and Blackcap nest.

Song Thrush Nest

Chaffinch Nest

Nest recording provides us with some very valuable data about our British breeding bird populations. Although nest recording takes up a lot of time and effort, why not begin nest recording next year? For more information on how to become a nest recorder - please visit the NRS on the BTO website.