Moorland Birds Interpretation Project

The Exmoor Moorland Breeding Bird Survey was conducted between April and June 2024. Previously, the RSPB had undertaken this important 6-yearly survey between 1978 and 2014  which has proved a vital source of biodiversity data for Exmoor, with population trends and estimates for all moorland birds and recent surveys combining a broad assessment of habitat across the moorland. In 2024, the survey was organised and led by the National Park Authority employing a team of 4 surveyors who tirelessly surveyed 17,000ha of Exmoor moorland, carrying out 2 visits during the breeding season.

The survey recorded over 35,000 birds and over 90,000 environmental variables, giving us a huge amount of useful habitat data and an invaluable picture of how our moorland birds are faring and the state of the moorland itself. For example, the survey identified population increases for whinchat, reed bunting, grasshopper warbler and snipe which oppose trends of national decline.  Previously this data was held with the National Park and shared via a survey report, but this time the National Park looked to FiPL to add value to the results and in particular at how they could be fed back to landowners in a meaningful way.

Grant Request: £22,384.50                                             

Total Project Cost: £26,248.50

FiPL funded the project manager post for another 6 months, allowing the data to be further analysed with a focus on making observations and recommendations for 36 individual moorland units.  This led to the creation of a comprehensive bespoke map and management recommendations with photos for each of the moorland units with over 75 landowners benefitting from this information. Results from the survey were also widely reported, with events held locally to share information with landowners, conservation groups and general public.  Key information was also disseminated through new interactive web pages and you can find out more information about the survey and results here.

FiPL also supported the production of the updated Exmoor National Park Moorland Bird pocket guide, available free in all National Park Centres which provides a summary of results and further information on Exmoor’s moorland.

The FiPL panel were keen to support this project, seeing the value in the added value extras the FiPL funding was able to provide. All landowners involved now have accurate up-to-date survey results of the moorland birds present on their land and can use this valuable information to access options within environmental land management schemes. 

It is being used to help design options for the Reviving Exmoor’s Heartlands Landscape Recovery Scheme.