Record-breaking wing submissions boost wildfowl monitoring efforts

The 2024/25 BASC Wing Survey delivered its most successful season in recent years, thanks to the outstanding contributions from BASC members and regional teams.

What is the BASC Wing Survey?

The BASC Wing Survey originally launched in 1965 as the Duck Production Survey. It is a long-running citizen science initiative that invites shooters to submit wings from shot wildfowl and waders. Each submission helps build a clearer picture of quarry species. It also provides vital insights into age and sex composition, supporting population monitoring and conservation advice.

While the survey has been running for six decades, its most robust records date from the 1980s onwards. Since 1986, members have contributed more than 46,000 wings, creating a unique long-term dataset. This record not only reveals population trends over time but also provides the scientific foundation for evidence-based conservation and sustainable shooting practices.

With a total of 3,201 wings submitted throughout the 2024/25 season, the survey recorded a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to monitor and support sustainable wildfowl shooting across the UK.

What the data tells us

In terms of the number of wings submitted for each species, wigeon topped the list with 1,097 wings, followed by teal (825) and woodcock (452).

Wigeon: For the second consecutive season, juvenile wigeon made up less than 40 per cent of the sample. This low proportion may reflect reduced reproductive output on breeding grounds, aligning with broader concerns about short-term population decline.
Teal: While juvenile proportions remain low compared to historical levels, this season saw a slight increase. Encouragingly, teal populations continue to grow at both the UK and flyway levels. This suggests that a lower juvenile output is not yet a cause for concern.
Woodcock: Of the woodcock wings submitted with a shooting date, 99.6 per cent were harvested after the November full moon, showing excellent compliance with our best practice guidance to delay harvest and protect resident breeding birds.

Why wing data matters

Wing surveys are a powerful tool used in multiple countries to assess wildfowl populations. In the UK, we can use them to complement bird counts and bag returns, offering a deeper understanding of species composition and productivity. By analysing the ratio of juveniles to adult females, we can better gauge breeding success and anticipate future population trends.

For example, the teal breeding index has declined from four-to-six juveniles per adult female in the late 1980s, to around two juveniles per adult female in recent years. This trend, mirrored in Danish populations, suggests a broad shift in teal productivity at the flyway level.

Continued wing submissions will help us track population changes and target conservation efforts at breeding grounds, such as the habitat restoration underway in Finland through the SOTKA initiative.

Find more information on the BASC Wing Survey and details of how you can get involved here.

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Heather Warrender

Heather is BASC’s science advisor. She has a BSc in Animal Science and an MSc in Wildlife Management from Newcastle University. She has undertaken several research projects has been involved in the management and conservation of a small grouse moor from an early age.