Learning more about breeding woodcock populations in Northern Ireland

We know very little about breeding woodcock in Northern Ireland. Given that the British woodcock populations are declining, it is important to understand if the population resident in Northern Ireland is experiencing a similar trend.

BASC provided funding for a roding woodcock survey in Northern Ireland, which took place in May and June 2023. The data gathered from this survey will feed into the GWCT/BTO decennial national breeding woodcock survey. Data from Northern Ireland was not considered in the 2003 and 2013 surveys due to a low level of responses.

This will close an evidence gap in the National Breeding Woodcock Survey, which will improve the robustness of assessments of the sustainability of woodcock shooting in Northern Ireland, and ultimately in the whole of the UK.