SOI Ltd offers a range of ornithological services including survey design, data analysis, assessment of productivity and habitat use, and land and ship based surveys. The latter use experienced observers trained in European Seabirds At Sea (ESAS) methods, with ongoing checks of data quality and consistency undertaken. The focus of all data collection is on addressing the key questions relevant to the particular site or activity, and ensuring that any requirements of environmental legislation such as the Birds Directive are addressed. This ensures delivery for the ecological components of an EIA, or an Appropriate Assessment. The combination of a wealth of practical field experience, understanding of client needs, and scientific rigour available from SOI Ltd makes us a natural choice for the private and public sectors.
The essential first stage for SOI Ltd in any ecological assessment is the identification of the key questions of importance to the client, statutory agencies or regulators. Robust and efficient survey and monitoring design is then essential in maximising the ability of data gathered to answer these questions. SOI Ltd has extensive experience of this process and in maximising survey efficiency. For example, we use Distance software for designing line transect and point count surveys to minimise off-effort time but also ensure adequate and uniform coverage probability is attained across survey strata.
SOI Ltd is also able to provide sediment ecology and benthic habitat survey services, allowing detailed assessment of habitats to be undertaken. This can be fundamental in explaining bird distribution and abundance across an area, and assessing potential development impacts.
