Farming Cluster Volunteer Surveyor - Wintering Birds

We are looking for wintering bird surveyors! Could this be you?

Why we want you?

The RSPB conservation team (Cambs, Beds, Herts) focus on our conservation work outside of reserves. In Cambridgeshire, one of our key work areas is nature-friendly farming.

The Ely Nature-Friendly Farming Zone (ENFFZ) is a farming cluster aiming to be an exemplar of a profitable, sustainable farming landscape demonstrating increasing levels of Fenland biodiversity. They are supported by the RSPB and are working to be known for inspiring, developing and sharing best practice in nature-friendly farming locally and nationally.

By ensuring all ENFFZ members are working to achieve the Farm Wildlife 6 key elements, farmers are doing their utmost for the wildlife within the Fens. The group provides members with a voice and an opportunity to show the public, farmers, landowners and both local and national ministers the great work being undertaken on their farms. You can find out more information about the cluster group here (site still in development): https://elynffarming.wordpress.com/.

To support the ambitions of both the ENFFZ and our future farming cluster group work with new farmers, we are looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals to support us with baseline wildlife surveys (and repeated future surveys)! This role is specifically looking for people interested in surveying for wintering birds.

This is an exciting opportunity to help expand our impact and support the RSPB’s wider mission to create a world richer in nature. You will become part of a small team of RSPB staff, farmers, and volunteers, helping to create a sustainable monitoring legacy for the ENFFZ.

What will you be doing?

You will be supporting the RSPB conservation team to baseline the farms involved in the Ely Nature-Friendly Farming Zone.

The wintering bird methodology aims to get a total non-breeding species representation for each farm within the cluster group, including but not limited to target or key species. The methodology that has been chosen is designed to monitor any changes in bird species presence using a transect-based approach where surveyors record all birds seen or heard within a standardised 50-metre observation area along a fixed route.

You will:

• Need to be able to carry out two surveys, ideally one in December and the other six weeks later in January (or just at two points between December and March with a six-week gap).
• Need to be able to travel to a farm / farms within the ENFFZ area (North from Ely to Denver / Southery / Brandon Bank and South from Ely to Soham / Chittering / Earith) or within the Ramsey area (new farming cluster). You can see a boundary for the ENFFZ here: https://elynffarming.wordpress.com/the-ely-nffz/.
• Develop and maintain relationships with the farmers and land managers.
• Facilitate support for nature-friendly land management.
• [Optional] Support less experience volunteers by acting as a mentor OR support volunteers without access to their own transport.

The skills you need?

Essential

• Ability to walk a moderate distance (~2km), likely on uneven terrain.
• An interest in increasing your identification and survey knowledge of birds.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to build and maintain relationships with farmers.
• A great people person, friendly and approachable.
• Ability to work with sensitive data and adhere to GDPR guidelines.
• Reliable and committed.

Desirable

• Basic identification skills of wintering birds.
• Prior surveying experience (general).
• Prior wintering bird surveying experience.
• Full driving licence (many of our farms are difficult / not possible to travel to via public transport).

What’s in it for you?

• A fantastic opportunity to support a farming cluster working to provide a space for nature on their farms and a partnership of farmers creating wetland habitat to support our well-loved Fenland species.
• Training to help you learn new skills and make sure you are prepared for the role.
• Meeting like-minded people.
• Flexibility, meaning this role works around your other commitments.
• You will be making a genuine contribution to nature conservation, so if that is your motivation, you’ll find satisfaction in this role.
• You will learn all about how the RSPB works and gain experience working for an environmental charity.

Additional information?

• Appropriate training will be provided.
• Expenses reimbursed.
• Appropriate equipment provided (where necessary).
• Whilst this role is flexible, it is essential that the surveys are carried out according to their respective methodologies and within the required time frame.