Black-throated diver national surveys in Scotland
Citation
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Black-throated diver national surveys in Scotland. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/vu0lve accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-15.Description
Black-throated divers are birds of conservation concern due to the small UK population size, and large declines in the European population in the 20th century. This dataset contains records of black-throated divers from the national surveys conducted in 1985, 1994 and 2006. The 2006 survey details unique site visits, and individual birds may be reported in more than one record, recorded on different visits to the same site. The survey indicated a significant increase of 16% between 1994 and 2006. The 1985 and 1994 surveys in this dataset are breeding summaries of summering territories. The 1985 survey is incomplete, and is missing seven summering territories reported by Campbell and Talbot (British Birds, 1987). In addition to the data collected for the national surveys, this dataset also contains data collected on additional visits in the survey years. These data are either from sites that were not included in the surveys, or from sites visited outside the survey period. These data are clearly flagged in the dataset. The surveys were carried out by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) under the Statutory Conservation Agencies and RSPB Breeding Birds Scheme (SCARABBS).
Purpose
Sampling Description
Quality Control
These data have been gathered by trained field-workers and the data are of a high quality.These data have been mapped and checked for sensitivities and typographical/geographical errors.
Method steps
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2006 survey: All freshwater lochs occupied by black-throated divers since 1994 were surveyed, in addition to a random selection of lochs occupied by divers prior to 1994, and other suitable lochs. Three core visits were made to the majority of the sites, once during each of the two-week periods between 1st May and 15th June. Sites were observed for a minimum of 2 hours, and any breeding evidence was recorded.
1994 and 1985 surveys: All freshwater lochs known to have been occupied by black-throated divers were surveyed, in addition to a random selection of other suitable lochs. Two core visits were made to the majority of the sites during the survey period.
In order to verify records and validate the dataset, the data have been mapped and thoroughly checked. Geographical checks have included comparing the distribution with that shown in published papers and ensuring that records with the same area name are located close to each other.
Taxonomic Coverages
Geographic Coverages
Bibliographic Citations
Contacts
originatorRoyal Society for the Protection of Birds
metadata author
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
distributor
NBN Atlas
27 Old Gloucester St, Holborn
London
WC1N 3AX
London
GB
email: admin@nbnatlas.org
Conservation Data Management Unit
administrative point of contact
email: dataunit@rspb.org.uk