Acoustic Monitoring for detection of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers
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Our new paper just published in December's British Birds describes how we have successfully developed sound recording 'Bioacoustics' as a tool for the detection and monitoring of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. We have found Lesser Spots still present in woodlands where they have not been seen/heard for years. This is a very exciting -
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 2025 Report
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Our full Lesser Spotted Woodpecker report for 2025 is here -thanks to the brilliant support of our network of volunteers, it has been a remarkably positive year.
It includes how passive acoustic monitoring (sound recording) to detect LSW calls and drumming was amazingly successful at sites through Sussex, Hampshire and Somerset, detecting LSW at known sites but also at many sites where they had not been recorded before.
And how in the breeding season LesserSpotNet volunteers monitored 24 nests – the most in any year since we started the project in 2015. The average number of chicks fledged per nest was the highest ever.
BTO Marsh Award 2024 for Woodpecker Network
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Woodpecker Network was honoured to accept the 2024 Marsh Award for Local Ornithology at the BTO Awards Evening hosted by the Society of Wildlife Artists at the Natural Eye Exhibition at the Mall Gallery in October 2024.
Is that a Lesser Spotted or Great Spotted Woodpecker in your garden?
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Great Spots are found widely throughout Britain, they are common in woodland and readily visit garden feeders. Lesser Spots are scarce and rarely seen. So you are much more likely to see a Great Spot than a Lesser Spot.
You can easily tell the difference………..
Last chance to find a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nest
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Now is your last chance and a good time to find a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nest, For the next weekor two LSW young will be calling from the nest hole and you may hear them. So have a good search in your local woods.
Lesser Spot Net volunteers are already watching/monitoring twelve nests accross the Midlands and South of England.
If you find a nest please let us know so that we can help you monitor it and gather useful information to help the Lesser Spot Net project.