Wintering Bird Surveys

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A Wintering Bird Survey is a type of wildlife check that takes place in the colder months—usually between October and March—to see which bird species are spending the winter in a particular area.

Unlike the breeding season in spring, many birds migrate to the UK in winter from colder parts of Europe and the Arctic. These surveys help us understand where these birds are feeding and resting during the winter months.

Winter is a tough time for birds. Food is harder to find, and they need safe places to rest. Wintering bird surveys help us:

• Track which species are using an area, like wetlands, estuaries, farmland, or grasslands.
   
• Count how many birds are present, especially important for large flocks of geese, ducks, swans, and waders.
   
• Protect important habitats that birds rely on to survive the winter.
   

Surveyors, who are often trained birdwatchers or ecologists, visit specific sites and:

• Watch and count birds from a distance using binoculars or telescopes.
   
• Record species and numbers, usually during high tide in coastal areas when birds gather in large groups.
   
• Note behaviour, such as feeding, roosting, or flying in and out of the area.
   

These surveys are usually done in the early morning or around key tidal times when bird activity is highest

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Some birds come to the UK only in winter—like pink-footed geese, whooper swans, or wigeon—and they travel thousands of miles to get here. Others, like starlings, form huge flocks in winter (called murmurations) and roost in large numbers.

Monitoring these birds tells us:

• How well our countryside and coasts are supporting wildlife
   
• Whether climate change is affecting migration and survival
   
• If specific sites need more protection (some are internationally important for wintering birds)
   

Wintering bird surveys help us look after the birds that rely on the UK as a winter home. By counting and studying them, we can make sure they have the safe spaces they need—now and in the future.