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Shropshire’s rookeries were last (indeed first) individually surveyed in 1975 when 455 sites were reported containing 12,004 nests. So, more than three decades on, are those sites still active and are they the same size, where are the new ones and has the overall population changed? Indeed can we find any now which were missed in 1975? The March/April 2008 survey gives you a chance to help answer the questions – everyone knows what a rookery looks like so please tell me when you find one, or more.
You can search for 1975 rookeries anywhere in Shropshire, in detail, on the aerial photograph (or on a complete 1975 list) – by following the links to GoogleEarth and, as they come in, 2008 sites. If you send in a rookery report this year it will (if you agree) have your name attached to it. You could cover your parish, perhaps 3-5 sites? Your help will be acknowledged in my final report and I look forward to hearing from you.
The results of this survey will be forwarded to the national Bird Atlas Scheme (2007-2011) and the Shropshire Atlas scheme.
With acknowledgements to the BTO for the use of their 1975 National Rookeries Survey data for Shropshire and the SOS for support for this project.
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