INTENSIVE SITE SURVEYS
Site surveys may be undertaken in different stages starting with an initial habitat assessment followed by a full presence / activity survey with multiple visits ultimately producing a detailed impact assessment with specific recommendations for protection, mitigation and enhancement.
Intensive site surveys normally fall into two categories governed by the survey objective:
Intensive site surveys normally fall into two categories governed by the survey objective:
Where a large area is to be surveyed to establish barn Owl distribution and status - reduced detail is required and a 'top-down' approach focuses on the most likely nest sites which have been reported or have a high potential. This method quickly identifies the highest status for the species in the specific site before moving progressively on to the next location.
On smaller sites where, for example, a detailed pre-development survey is required, then a 'bottom-up' approach is followed. The objective is to search every part of a building or group of buildings to find evidence of occupation. This involves working up progressively from the most unlikely place of occupation to the most likely whilst gathering information along the way.
In both categories the ultimate aim is to take a precautionary approach and minimise disturbance to the species. When birds are flushed from a site certain protocols are followed depending on the circumstance / likelihood of a potential nest site.
In both categories the ultimate aim is to take a precautionary approach and minimise disturbance to the species. When birds are flushed from a site certain protocols are followed depending on the circumstance / likelihood of a potential nest site.
