This stream allows you to view maps for individual species or a composite map of all 15 species overlaid. These 15 species are farmland birds of conservation concern for which targeted action by Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) is appropriate. Other more widespread farmland species may also benefit from this management.

For most species, the highlighted areas are circles with a 2km radius from the centre of a 1km Ordnance Survey square where the species has been recorded within the last five years (the exceptions to this are described below). The records shown include year-round records of resident species (which breed and winter in roughly the same area) and breeding season records only for migrant species (which generally winter far away from their breeding sites). Lack of records at a site does not indicate that the species is absent, just that no records have been received. Other evidence of its' presence is acceptable for HLS funding. This database was collated from a large variety of sources by The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) (http://www.rspb.org.uk) on behalf of a partnership project (the Bird Conservation Targeting Project, BCTP) consisting of Natural England, RSPB, Forestry Commission England (http://www.forestry.gov.uk), British Trust for Ornithology (http://www.bto.org), and Defra (http://www.defra.gov.uk). Data originated from a variety of recent national and local sources and the project is extremely grateful to all the local, regional and national organisers who provided data to the project. Further information on the Bird Conservation Targeting Project can be found on the RSPB website at http://www.rspb.org.uk/targeting.

The information presented here is not the full content of the BCTP Database, which is a confidential database.

The 15 bird species recorded are black grouse, cirl bunting, corn bunting, grey partridge, lapwing, redshank, ring ouzel, snipe, stone curlew, tree sparrow, turtle dove, curlew, twite, woodlark and yellow wagtail. Due to the sensitive nature of breeding information for black grouse, stone curlew and cirl bunting, the location information where these three species have been recorded within the last five years, has been degraded. Black grouse and stone curlew are represented as circles with 7km radii from the centre of 10km Ordnance Survey squares and cirl bunting are represented as circles with 3km radii from the center of 2km Ordnance Survey squares. For more precise information on these species you need to contact your local Natural England office.

Once you have configured your map to show a Farmland Bird species distribution or the Composite layer showing the co-incidence of all 15, you can select a BAP Priority Habitat layer to be displayed on your map. This will display the locations within England of rare or threatened semi-natural habitats that are part of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

You can also add one or two designated sites layers to the map. The types of sites that you can select are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), National Nature Reserves (NNRs), Local Nature Reserves (LNRs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Ramsar Sites.

The first two are the same sites as appear on the Nature Reserves Map and the Sites of Special Scientific Interest Map. SACs are European protected sites for species and habitats. SPAs are European protected sites for birds. Ramsar sites are designated for their internationally important wetland features, habitats or species.

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