ABPmer is contracted by Associated British Ports to undertake coastal waterbird monitoring in Southampton Water for baseline characterisation.
The surveys, ongoing since 2016, use the following techniques:
Abundance and distribution counts
Waterbirds are counted monthly on intertidal and adjacent coastal habitats, based on methods set by the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) scheme. These coordinated counts are undertaken year-round to capture overwintering, passage and summer birds during high- and low-water periods. The surveys cover over 500 ha, including approximately 10 km of foreshore habitats, and involve a team of experienced in-house and contracted surveyors.
Pre-dawn (nocturnal) surveys
Data is collected using thermal imagery and dawn dispersal methods to understand the utilisation of habitats by coastal species nocturnally.
GPS tracking
Several species are tagged using GPS technology, tracking their movements to understand distribution, habitat preferences and site fidelity. Species include curlew, oystercatcher, wigeon and dark-bellied brent geese.
ABPmer's ecologists support impact assessments, site management decisions and conservation policy development through bespoke, robust and proportionate habitat, bird, fish and marine mammal surveys. Learn more about our ecological survey capability.