In the spring of 2022/23, rookeries across the county were surveyed by volunteers as a contribution to the Welsh Ornithological Society’s Welsh rookery survey. It took some time to review all nest counts from visits to approximately 400 previously known rookery locations in over 300 tetrads (2km x 2km squares). Based on maximum nest numbers, a minimum sum of 6,679 nests have been recorded from 213 occupied rookeries produced an average of 31.4 nests per rookery.
The distribution of rookeries recorded and the distribution of previously known, but now unoccupied, rookery locations on the six-figure reference grid level are shown on the map below.
At least 64 of the rookeries surveyed have records dating back to the 1930s/40s. Many of these have not been occupied for many years. Almost certainly some have moved to other locations.
Although many of the now unoccupied rookeries are likely due to many local moves to new locations over time, it is evident from the map that there are some fairly large gaps where rookeries are missing , especially in the central and eastern parts of the county. The total number of nests recorded in 2022/23 represents a population decline of at least 19-27% since the last county-wide rookery survey almost 50 years ago in 1975.
Locations of rookeries in 2022/23
Red dots = occupied rookeries.
Black dots = formerly known rookeries nobody in 2022/23.
A big thank you to everyone who contributed records and made it possible to perform a complete county-wide survey. Here is a link to the full report.
