The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS)

The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) is the scheme which monitors non-breeding waterbirds in the UK. The principal aims of WeBS are to quantify population sizes, determine trends in numbers and distribution and to identify important sites for waterbirds.

WeBS is jointly run by the British Trust for Ornithology, The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

All queries and correspondence concerning WeBS should be directed to:

WeBS Office, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU

Tel: 01842 750050

E-mail:

WeBS Core Counts

WeBS Core Counts are made annually at around 2,000 wetland sites of all habitats; estuaries and large still waters predominate. Monthly co-ordinated counts are made, mostly by volunteers. The principal months of data collection are from September to March although, increasingly, observations are submitted from the summer months also.

We are always on the look out for new WeBS volunteers and currently are particularly short of counters in Northern Ireland. Although wherever you live, if you would like more information about volunteering in WeBS please contact us here

For more information, including recommended count dates, click here

WeBS Low Tide Counts

WeBS Low Tide Counts are made on about 20 selected estuaries each winter (November to February) to determine the distribution of birds during low tide and to identify important feeding areas.

For more information, click here

WeBS Alerts

WeBS Alerts have been developed to provide notification of significant changes in waterbird populations levels at various spatial scales including the UK as a whole, its constituent countries and for designated sites (SPAs, SSSIs & ASSIs).

To access the WeBS Alerts Report, click here

Who's who within the WeBS team

To find out more information about WeBS staff and to find who is responsible for different duties click here

History of WeBS

To find out more information about the history of WeBS and waterbird monitoring in the UK click here