Common Snipe are widely recognized as a difficult wader species to census as they remain largely 
secretive except during the breeding season when they perform spectacular courtship flights over the nesting territory. Once a female is attracted, the male performs a circular sky dance where it sporadically dives with the outermost tail-feathers at right-angles to its body. Feather vibration in the slipstream produces the remarkable throbbing sound known as ‘drumming’. The noise created is a rapid series of drum notes that sound remarkably like the bleating of a goat. This takes place throughout the nesting season from March to July. Drumming activity peaks for short periods at dawn and dusk when counts are likely to be most effective. It is this drumming display that will allow us to monitor breeding activity during the 2019 survey. To hear the sound of drumming snipe, click HERE
METHODS FOR SURVEYING BREEDING SNIPE
Select Suitable Breeding Location
Snipe are ground-nesting birds that breed wherever there are suitable lowland and upland habitat. Suitable habitat includes wet areas on bogs and moorland, unimproved pasture and meadows and ideally with areas of tussocky vegetation that provides shelter and protection. They also nest on the edge of watercourses and wet field corners.
Choose an area that suits the time you have available. If you know a location that you have seen or heard snipe in spring or summer previously, this would be a good place to start. Commit to an area you can manage. Ideally, each survey location should be around 500m square. Feel free to survey as many locations as you like.
When to Survey
Surveys should be performed at least twice at each chosen location. The first visit should be made between mid-April to mid-May and the second between mid-May to mid-June (leave at least 2 weeks between the first and second visit). Choose days with little wind. The wind has an important effect on the detection of breeding snipe so surveys should not be conducted when wind strength exceeds 19 km/h. Days with drizzle or light rain are acceptable as previous studies indicate drumming intensifies during damp conditions. The prime times to survey are during the 3 hours after first light and 3 hours before last light. In April and May, this typically means from 6 am to 9 am in the morning and 7 pm to 10 pm in the evening.
How to Survey
The most convenient method for counting is to walk through an area recording the number of snipe seen, displaying and/or drumming. If a vantage point can be achieved to view the entire area, then there is no requirement to walk. Disturbing nests is unnecessary and should be avoided. Spend as long as you can within the 3 hour period at dawn or dusk; ideally allowing a minimum of 1 hour per visit at each location. If no snipe are found during your first visit, record that information and complete the survey by making the second visit between mid-May to mid-June.
What to Survey
Record the following:
- Date of Survey
- Start and Stop Time of Survey
- GPS Coordinates or Address Location
- Number of Snipe Seen
- Number of Snipe Drumming
Return Survey Results by one of the Following Methods,
Email: snipebreedingsurvey@gmail.com
Text message/Whatsapp: 00353 (0) 85 1897198
Message us on Facebook or Twitter