The Churnet Valley Living Landscape Partnership (CVLLP) is looking for volunteers to help them survey the local bird population in and around the Churnet Valley, Cheadle and Leek.
Local Naturalist, Wendy Birks, is coordinating the “Wildlife From Your Doorstep” project which aims to measure the quality of the environment. She stresses this is a very accessible project to take part in, “we are looking for volunteers to survey the bird life of the Churnet Valley either while out walking or simply by keeping note of birds visiting their gardens. “
Wendy would like people to challenge themselves to find as many bird species as possible and record the results. This way she can build a picture of the presence of bird species and their populations throughout the area.
Volunteers don't need any special equipment, apart from a pencil and notepad, however if they do have binoculars this will help them to see more. A bird identification book or access to a bird ID website would also be useful. Volunteers will be provided with “get started” information, and recording sheets.
Wendy urges people to become volunteers now, “ it is easier to spot birds before the trees become densely leaved. Also, the project will benefit if people can keep records over a whole bird breeding season. If voluteers join the project now, they will be able to observe birds from courtship behaviour to the fledging of offspring. We also hope that volunteers will notice when summer migrants, such as swallows arrive, start to breed, and when they prepare to fly back to Africa again in the autumn.”
All volunteers will receive help from CVLLP with identifying bird species and will be given regular updates of the progress of the project via a website and through newsletters. “Plus we will invite volunteers to join us on bird-watching walks in Leek, Cheadle and the Churnet Valley, an opportunity to meet CVLLP team members and other participants, and, hopefully, see some birds.”
To become a volunteer or for further information about this project contact Wendy Birks at wendy.birks@gmail.com or Helen Anderson on telephone number 01538 381356 or at helenanderson@smcvs.co.uk