Fieldwork for the Seabird Monitoring Programme is carried out
according to the methods specified in the Seabird Monitoring
Handbook for Britain and Ireland (Walsh et al.,
1995).
The Handbook aims to
summarise recommended methods for collecting basic information
on breeding numbers, population changes, and breeding success.
However, it is also important to monitor other population
parameters such as adult survival rates, diet, rate of
food-delivery to chicks, or growth-rates of chicks. The
methods required for monitoring survival rates, in particular, are
too labour-intensive for widespread use so such data is only
collected at a limited number of geographically dispersed
colonies. A future edition may cover methods for collecting
such data but at present guidance on relevant methods can be
obtained from the compilers.
As well as species specific survey methodology
the Handbook also provides general guidance on sampling and census
methods, time and geographical scales for monitoring, recommended
counting dates (often specific to a group of species), simple
statistical methods, safety issues and basic legal advice.
Although the methods presented here deal only
with assessment of population sizes, population changes, and the
numbers of chicks produced by breeding pairs, such data may be
combined with the results from other studies (e.g. seabird survival
rates, seabird diet, predation, fish stocks) to assess why seabird
numbers have changed, how might they change in future, or what
factors influence breeding success.
Methods for surveying storm
petrels
The storm petrels (European storm petrel Hydrobates
pelagicus and Leach's storm petrel Oceanodroma
leucorhoa) are particularly difficult to survey, due to their
nocturnal, burrowing habits. Please contact a member of the breeding
seabird team for advice.