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BIRD SURVEYS
We have over 40 years experience in organising and undertaking bird surveys using a variety of standard methodologies including:
- Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS)
- Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)
- Upland Bird Surveys (Brown and Shepherd)
- Raptor Vantage Point watches
- Woodland surveys (point counts)
- Breeding wader surveys
- Seabird census
BOTANY
We can undertake simple vegetation/habitat surveys and single species surveys. We have had involvement with various surveys through RSPB and other rare species searches.
ESCORTED FOREIGN TRAVEL
Both company Directors are tour leaders for one of the UK's largest wildlife holiday companies, Naturetrek (www.naturetrek.co.uk) and have escorted trips to various countries including USA, Lesvos, France, Morocco, turkey and Canada.
MOTH RECORDING
Both Directors are skilled in the identification and survey/capture of nocturnal macro-lepidoptera. Dave has been employed by the Ulster Museum to clean their records database and is a member of the moth records assessment panel. A survey of the rare micro-moth the Scarce Crimson and Gold was undertaken for CEDaR (Centre for Environmental Data and Recording ) and EHS in 2005. Two new sites were discovered for this UK Priority species. A by-product of the survey was the discovery of Northern Ireland’s largest colony of Small Eggars.
CHINA
Dave participated in a Cambridge University Expedition to Beidaihe in 1987 and has subsequently organised, with the help of contacts within China, two further trips: a successful search for Roborovski’s Rosefinch in North Tibet (supported by RSPB & BirdLife International) and with Clive, pioneering shorebird counts on the Gulf of Bohai (supported by Wetlands International and RSPB).
LOUGH NEAGH DIVING DUCKS
Dave Allen & Clive Mellon were appointed by EHS to find potential causes for the recent dramatic changes in key wildfowl populations. A report has been submitted to EHS.
RUDDY DUCKS
A database of all published (and many unpublished) records has been assembled and a detailed study of its year round distribution and movements within NI is well underway.
RED GROUSE IN NORTHERN IRELAND
A full survey was undertaken for EHS and a report can be accessed at the following link
A Biodiversity Action Plan for the species, also written by Allen & Mellon Environmental is awaiting publication pending DNA research which is being led by the Open University in partnership with Allen & Mellon Environmental Ltd.
SPECIES ACTION PLANS
Allen & Mellon Environmental have written a number of Species Action Plans for Birds and Plants which can be accessed via the following link
WEB PAGES
A number of Web Pages on Priority (Birds, Butterflies and Moths) and Alien Bird Species have been written for the Ulster Museum and these can be viewed and accessed at
LOUGH NEAGH SUSTAINABLE RECREATION FRAMEWORK AND BASELINE AUDIT
Undertaken in conjunction with Judith Annett of Countryside Consultancy, on behalf of the Lough Neagh Advisory Committee and Lough Neagh Partnership. This is a framework for the sustainable recreational development of Lough Neagh including consideration of the ecological carrying capacity of the Lough. An extensive baseline audit of social, economic and environmental activity in the Lough Neagh Wetlands was also undertaken as part of this project.
BIODIVERSITY GUIDELINES
In association with Woodrow Wildlife Consultancy and Janie Crone Associates, Allen and Mellon Environmental Ltd have drafted Biodiversity Guidelines for both Kildare and Sligo County Councils. This project is part funded by the Heritage Council and aims to provide guidance to enable Council staff to incorporate biodiversity issues into their work. The project involved the production of a set of advice notes and a training programme to be held in February and March 2006.
LAND-USE PLANNING
We have undertaken a variety of projects on Land-Use Planning in Northern Ireland, including preparation of planning guidelines for Friends of the Earth members and other campaigners (link). We have also studied the effectiveness of planning consultation responses for EHS Natural Heritage.
CURRENT AND ONGOING WORK
Biological Surveys for Antrim Borough Council and LVRP/RSPB, Marsh Fritillary Survey for RPS, All-Ireland Belted Beauty survey (Ulster Museum/Heritage Council), Survey to identify species-rich grasslands for EHS.
All photos used with permission from :
Dave Allen, Paul Harmes, Robert Thompson, Maurice Hughes, Anthony McGeehan, Dennis Weir and Mike Dodd.
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