Surveyor (Not on a Reserve) (Curlew Surveyor North Wales (Curlew LIFE Project))

Cri’r Gylfinir/CurlewLIFE is a 4 year EU funded project with the aim of preventing the extinction of breeding curlew in Wales by improving their breeding success rate. We hope to achieve this by enhancing habitats, undertaking predator control and working with local farmers to encourage farming practices which will benefit curlew.

Timing The walkover surveys called Brown and Shepherd surveys will be undertaken 12 April – 29 April and 30 April – 20 May. We usually allocate volunteers one survey area each, but you could volunteer for more if time allows. Each survey area will take one full day to survey, but this can be split into two shorter days. You will then visit nests weekly from 20 May until birds have fledged (or failed) around mid-June. These visits will entail watching the nests for between 1-4 hrs depending on the availability of volunteers and the stage of breeding.

Location You will undertake surveys either around Ysbyty Ifan, Gwytherin, Nebo or Pentrefoelas. Most surveys will be on farmland which extends from the valley bottom up onto the sheep grazed moors.

Skills and abilities You will need to be able to identify upland birds and have plenty of patience and perseverance to watch a species which can behave in a very cryptic way around their nest locations. The walkover surveys require a good level of fitness, and you will need to walk over rough terrain in remote locations at times. You will be given a survey area which covers approximately 1-2 km sq area. Public transport is limited in the area and so you will need access to a vehicle. You can work alone or be paired with another volunteer. It can be easier to find nests when working in pairs and so you will more than likely work in pairs at some point.