Biodiversity

 Action

 Plan

Bird Species
Key Objectives

• Raise awareness of the changes in local priority bird species numbers and of the possible reasons.
• Collect and analyse records of local priority species across Barnsley and review and monitor sites where they breed, forage or roost.
• Protect and extend sites with local priority bird species breeding or wintering, and enhance particular habitat features they use.
• Ensure LWS or SSSI designation of sites with priority bird species or a significant assemblage present.
• Use opportunities to work with owners to establish positive conservation management of priority sites to bring them into favourable condition for bird species.

Marking Progress

• Populations of priority bird priority species maintained/improved

What is being done

• Birds of Conservation Concern survey published. BBT, BBSG, 2007
• Breeding bird survey 2005-11; Year on year bird recording. BBSG
• Breeding and wintering bird surveys commissioned by BMBC
• Barnsley Breeding Birds Atlas Publication. 2018. BBSG
• Assessment of potential SSSI designation Dearne Valley sites for breeding and wintering birds. 2018-21 Natural England, DVGHP
• Dearne Valley Wetlands SSSI designation. 2021 Natural England.

Continued below …

Proposed Actions

• Publicity on bird population decline,
  refreshed annually. BBT/BBSG
• Annual monitoring of sites with priority
  bird species most at risk. BBSG
• Identification of best sites for priority birds and other potential good sites
• Projects to conserve priority bird species by habitat improvement, nest boxes etc*
• Assessment of best bird sites for LWS designation  
• Use of good practice to publicise measures for conservation of priority birds.
• * see sections via overview

Farmland / Upland Birds

• Nest box and winter feeding schemes at Old Moor and Birthwaite Hall Farm ; 165 additional Tree Sparrow Boxes at locations around Barnsley with Voluntary Action support. 2002-08
• Tree Sparrow nest box scheme in Hoylandswaine
• New arable field at Broomhill Flash managed with farmland birds in mind. Garganey Trust 2020-
• Uptake of Environmental Stewardship schemes,

Birds of Prey

• Nest box schemes for Barn Owls, also supporting Kestrels) provided at locations around Barnsley
• Supplementary Planning Document for conversion of Barns highlights protection for Barn Owls

Woodland Birds

• Willow Tit survey of Dearne Valley. NIA, Geoff Carr, Jeff Lunn
• Back from the Brink Willow Tit project. 2018-21, YWT, RSPB
• BftB Willow Tit habitat management handbook 2021. YWT, RSPB
• 
  

Wetland // Reed bed

• Wetland creation and management to support increased numbers of breeding waders Adwick washlands, Broomhill Flash (The Fleet), Wath Ings, and Wombwell Ings
• Anti-predation measures at Adwick, Wombwell Ings,and proposed at The Fleet / Broomhill Flash. RSPB, Garganey Trust
• Reedbed creation and managementin Dearne Valley, Old Moor, Bolton Ings to support Bittern and other reedbed birds RSPB.

And …

• Implementation of Willow Tit conservation management handbook advice.
• Uptake of NELM schemes to support farmland and other priority birds
• Continued expansion and management of wetlands and reedbeds for bird species
• Nest box schemes including renewal of Barn Owl boxes.
• Swift and House Martin projects
• Biodiversity gains for priority bird species in developments onsite and offsite.