The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust will take its Big Farmland Bird Count to a new level in February, with the addition of new computer software that makes it easier for farmers to record and access long-term farmland bird data.

The charity proposes using an adapted version of the NotaZone software programme, which was initially developed as a record-keeping and management tool for farmers and food companies. The software is free to all taking part in the count, and works on a dance of devices from smartphones to desk top computers.

Jim Egan from the GWCT explained, “The NotaZone software… offers huge benefits for those taking part in the count.  For the first time, farmers, gamekeepers and others taking part in the survey will have access to their own personal long-term data on the birds they have counted on their land.  It also means that in future years they will be able to monitor trends, giving them a better understanding of what conservation measures they need to implement to help their farmland birds. We are really thrilled with this innovation and feel that it will help farmers to become even more engaged in looking after their farmland birds in the future.”

The software also gives users detailed hints and tips on the specialised conservation needs of individual bird species recorded during the count.

Jim Egan added, “Having immediate feedback through the software means that land managers can make really targeted changes to help their threatened birds, such as putting up nest boxes in the right place, providing over-winter feeding sites or creating ideal nesting conditions.”

GWCT’s count will take place between 3rd and 12th February, and everyone who registers to take part will have free access to the NotaZone software. Over 970 farmers took part in 2016, recording 130 species of birds across approximately 900,000 acres, and the charity wants to double that number.