International Golden Plover Survey 2014 and 2020

Following previous surveys, and continuing the 6-year cycle of Golden Plover surveys, the Project aimed to coordinate counting in all European countries where significant numbers of Golden Plovers could be expected during October 2014. The survey was coordinated by Chas Holt (BTO, UK) via individual country organisers. The priority weekend for the counts was 11-12 October 2014.  Please email your country organiser (or Chas – chas.holt@bto.org) with counts you have of Golden Plovers at that time.

Early indications are that numbers of Golden Plovers in northwest Europe in October 2014 within countries such as the UK and The Netherlands were slightly lower than expected – perhaps associated with the mild autumn temperatures prevalent at the time. Numbers counted in Iceland indicate that the population from there departed south on time though. It will be some time before the full dataset from across the range is ready for analysis however, so watch this space…

In 2020 yet another count was held, and we are currently compiling data, and chasing down the last yet-to-be-submitted data.