Posted by Andy Harris on 27 September 2010
The AONB Volunteers spend a great deal of time helping me with wildlife surveys of one kind or another. This year they helped with several bird surveys and I’m just getting round to sorting the data out.
The first of the surveys I’ve collated has been the results of how many churring Nightjars we recorded. Although the survey is not able to cover every inch of the hills (this is done every ten years) it is designed to give us a snap shot of how the species is doing.
Last year (2009) was a very wet summer and as Nightjars are a ground nesting species this can have severe impacts on their breeding success. Poor weather also limits the available time to conduct they survey and in 2009 only ten churring males were recorded.
Due to the better weather conditions this summer it’s great to report that a total of twenty one male Nightjars were recorded churring on territories across the heathland and forest.
Thank you to all who helped out with the survey working into the late hours of night and sometimes early hours of morning.
View Annual reports from the Quantock AONB Service
Please click below to read responses made by the AONB on behalf of the Quantock Hills Joint Advisory Committee
Find out more about why the heathland is so important for birds, the red deer on the Quantocks and why the history of the landscape is so special.
The Quantock Hills AONB Management Plan 2009-2014 and Management Plan Summary
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A few things you might find interesting from organisations we work with in the Quantocks
Find out how the Quantock Hills AONB Service commented on planning applications in 2012
Find our guidance documents and position statements here.
Climate-proof your tourism business
Annual deer count results for 2010, 2011and 2012
Building Resilient Villages
Papers from the partnership committee the Joint Advisory Committeeqhjac_papers_22nd_july_11.pdf
Quantock Hills Visitor Guide
a full range of leaflets from circular walks to event guides and leaflets to allow you to enjoy the best of the hills
Find out the Quantock Hills AONB Service position, and our response to SCC
The SDF for 20011/12 has £45,000 to allocate. This will provide grants to organisations, businesses, community groups and individuals who wish to explore and develop practical projects that enhance, conserve and develop the environment, economy and way of life.
Ticks are becoming more common and a bite from this spider-like parasite could lead to Lyme Disease. This is a treatable infection caused by bacterium transmitted by ticks when they bite. Not every tick carries Lyme Disease and it is important to realise that the disease is relatively rare.
Win a chance to create your own 'wild place'.
Quantock AONB Service
Tel: 01823 451 884
Somerset Wildlife Trust
Tel: 01823 652 400
www.somersetwildlife.org
National Trust
Tel: 01823 451 814
www.nationaltrust.org
Forestry Commission
Tel: 01278 732 319
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