Wash SPA Low Tide Bird Count 2017

Tender description

Natural England works for people, places and nature, to enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas; promote access, recreation and public well-being; and contribute to the way natural resources are managed so that they can be enjoyed now and in the future. Low tide surveys give information on the distribution and numbers of over-wintering waterbird populations when they are feeding during low tide. They supplement the high tide roost information collected by the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS). A national programme for low tide surveys exists which is undertaken by the volunteer counters of the Wetland Birds Survey (WeBS). However there are a few locations, such as the Wash and Morecambe Bay, which are not covered by this programme. These are typically large embayments with large expanses of intertidal mud and sand flats which present particular health and safety problems. The surveys at these sites need to be undertaken by professional surveyors who have expert local knowledge and appropriate equipment and back-up (eg boat support), rather than volunteers.