Chough Diet DNA Metabarcoding (Kent)

From Release to Recovery: Researching Chough Diet to Support Range Expansion

Contract title: Chough Diet DNA Metabarcoding

Contract start: November 2026

Contract finish: March 2029

Tender submission deadline: 11:59 pm, 25th November 2026

Submission: Email [email protected]

Based at Wildwood Kent. Please read the brief below in full before sending your submission.

Background

Wildwood Trust, in partnership with Kent Wildlife Trust and Paradise Park, has played a leading role in the return of the red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) to Kent following an absence of 200 years. The return of this charismatic, specialist invertebrate-feeding bird is acting as a catalyst to drive the restoration of Kent’s chalk grassland habitats and the wider biodiversity they support. The reintroduction project has achieved a significant milestone, with wild-hatched choughs now established in Dover, marking an important step towards the recovery of this iconic species across southern England.

Building on this success, Wildwood Trust has secured funding from Natural England for a research project entitled 'From Release to Recovery: Researching Chough Diet to Support Range Expansion'. This funding forms part of the Government's Wild Again initiative. The project aims to improve understanding of the ecological requirements of the returning chough population, providing an evidence base to support its long-term establishment and potential expansion across Kent and southern England.

A key consideration for the successful recovery of choughs is the availability of suitable foraging habitat and sufficient food resources throughout the year. Understanding what choughs are eating, and how their diet changes in response to seasonal variations in prey availability, is therefore essential to identifying, managing and maintaining habitats capable of supporting a sustainable population.

The research will also consider the potential influence of supplementary food provision on chough diet. Understanding the extent to which supplementary food contributes to their diet, alongside naturally occurring invertebrate prey, will help provide a more complete picture of their feeding ecology and inform the interpretation of seasonal dietary patterns.

This Invitation to Tender relates specifically to one element of the wider research project: the DNA metabarcoding of chough faecal samples to investigate dietary composition and seasonal variation. To our knowledge, this will be the first application of DNA metabarcoding to investigate the diet of chough in the wild.

Wildwood Trust is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced provider to:

1. Support the development of an appropriate study design and sampling methodology.

2. Undertake the laboratory processing and DNA metabarcoding analysis of chough faecal samples.

3. Conduct the subsequent statistical analysis and interpretation of the results in a comprehensive scientific report suitable for publication in an open-access journal in collaboration with Wildwood.

The successful provider will deliver robust scientific data and analysis to inform our understanding of chough diet and make an important contribution to the wider conservation and recovery project.

Research Objectives

1. Develop a robust and statistically sound survey design for faecal sample collection over a two-year period

Work with Wildwood staff to develop a scientifically robust survey methodology and sampling strategy to guide the collection of a minimum of 100 faecal samples over a two-year period. The study design should ensure that samples are collected in a consistent and representative manner across both breeding and non-breeding seasons, allowing for comparisons in DNA metabarcoding results and the assessment of seasonal variation.

2. Determine the dietary composition of released choughs in Dover, Kent

Undertake DNA metabarcoding analysis of at least 100 faecal samples collected over two years to identify the diet of released choughs in the wild, to the lowest reliable taxonomic level feasible.

The analysis should utilise at least two genetic markers to investigate dietary composition:

• Terrestrial invertebrate marker: Identify invertebrate prey consumed by choughs, with particular focus on soil- and dung-dwelling invertebrates, which are considered important components of the species' natural diet.

• Terrestrial plant marker: Identify plant material consumed by choughs, with particular focus on berries and spilt grain from arable stubble fields, which are potential food sources during the winter months.

3. Assess the ability to distinguish supplementary food from naturally occurring prey

Undertake DNA metabarcoding to establish molecular profiles of the supplementary feed provided as part of post-release management. Analyse chough faecal samples to assess the extent to which supplementary feed can be distinguished from natural food sources.

4. Assess seasonal variation in chough dietary composition

Analyse dietary data to investigate variation in chough diet between the breeding and non-breeding seasons across the two-year study period. The findings should provide an assessment of temporal variation in the diet of released choughs and contribute to understanding changes in natural foraging behaviour following release.

5. Assess dietary variation in relation to demographic factors

Where sample metadata and sample sizes permit, investigate whether dietary composition varies in relation to demographic factors, including sex, age and duration living in the wild. All released, captive-reared birds are fitted with identification leg rings, allowing faecal samples to be linked to individual birds where ring details are known.

6. Disseminate findings to inform wider conservation practice

Co-author an open-access journal article in partnership with Wildwood Trust to disseminate the research findings, present key conclusions and identify opportunities for further research and development. The findings should also help inform wider conservation and reintroduction practice.

Detail of Requirements

Deliverables

The contractor will be expected to:

• Produce a written methodology outlining sample processing, DNA extraction, selected markers and primers, sequencing approach, and quality assurance procedures.

• Carry out the processing and DNA extraction of at least 100 chough faecal samples, collected across seasonal sampling periods over two years.

• Carry out the processing and DNA extraction of supplemental diet ingredients.

• Sequence and identify, to the lowest feasible taxonomic level, dietary material using both terrestrial invertebrate and plant markers as a minimum.

• Produce a comprehensive dataset identifying all detected taxa, their taxonomic classification and the confidence/resolution of identification for each sample.

• Report on the frequency of occurrence estimates for identified taxa, presented at individual sample and seasonal levels, allowing comparison between breeding and non-breeding seasons.

• Produce a report determining if supplemental feed can be distinguished from wild prey items detected in chough faeces.

• Produce a Quality Assurance Report detailing sequencing success, quality control results, contamination checks, failed or inconclusive samples and any limitations affecting interpretation.

• Produce a co-authored open-access journal article in partnership with Wildwood Trust to disseminate the research findings, present key conclusions and identify opportunities for further research and development.

  
  

Essential requirements

The contractor will be expected to have:

• Demonstrable experience in DNA metabarcoding, molecular ecology and/or dietary analysis using animal faecal samples.

• Experience in DNA extraction, PCR amplification, sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of environmental or dietary DNA.

• Ability to select and apply suitable DNA metabarcoding markers for the identification of terrestrial invertebrates and plant material in chough faecal samples, with justification of their suitability.

• Robust laboratory protocols, including contamination prevention, appropriate controls and quality assurance throughout sample processing, sequencing and analysis.

• Access to appropriate reference databases and the ability to identify detected taxa to the lowest reliable taxonomic level, clearly reporting any limitations in identification.

• Ability to provide frequency of occurrence estimates for identified taxa, enabling comparison between breeding and non-breeding seasons, alongside clear reporting of methodology, results and analytical limitations.

• Flexibility to accommodate samples arriving in discrete seasonal batches over the two-year project period.

Desirable requirements

• Previous experience undertaking scientifically robust DNA metabarcoding of bird faecal samples, particularly for insectivorous species.

• Experience in comparative dietary analysis, identifying seasonal patterns and dominant prey taxa, and providing ecological interpretation of results to inform conservation and habitat management.

• Access to comprehensive, curated reference databases for UK terrestrial invertebrates and plants, with experience identifying taxa to species level where possible, including immature or larval stages.

• Ability to retain DNA extracts and/or processed samples for potential future analysis, subject to agreed storage arrangements.

• Experience providing technical support and discussing results with non-specialist ecological project partners.

• Experience working with conservation organisations, ecological research projects or species recovery programmes.

Timetable of Works

The faecal sample collection period will run from November 2026 to August 2028. Samples are expected to be collected and stored for subsequent processing. The precise scope and timing of the laboratory work may be subject to some flexibility, depending on the final survey methodology.

However, to adhere to Natural England’s funding requirements:

• Survey design and methodology must be agreed by December 2026.

• Processing of year 1 samples must be completed by September 2027 and year 2 samples by September 2028.

• Analysis and final report writing must be completed by February 2029.

The successful contractor will be expected to work collaboratively with Wildwood Trust and the project Steering Group to agree a realistic programme of work and maximise the scientific outputs achievable within the available budget.

Tenderers should therefore consider how their proposed approach, including the study design, laboratory processing and analysis, can be delivered cost-effectively within the budget available.

Budget

The total value of these works, as outlined in the details of requirements, is in the order of £85,790.74 (inclusive of VAT). The cost breakdown is provided below.

Please note that the costs for sample processing do not include postage of samples. Postage costs will be met separately by Wildwood.

Payment schedule

In accordance with the requirements of the Natural England funding arrangements, payments will be made in line with the delivery milestones set out below.

Skills/Knowledge Requirements for Contractor

We require potential contractors to detail the skills, knowledge and experience of all personnel who will be involved in the delivery of the contract. Detail must be given of how skills, knowledge and experience are relevant to the delivery of the contract and how they will help to make it a success.

Guidelines for Tendering

To submit the tender, please provide:

• Current CVs of key team members delivering the programme.

• A statement of no more than two sides of A4 detailing your suitability for the role with a proposed plan of delivery. Content to include the following:

• Your track record.

• Your approach/methodology.

• How you will add value and link to other initiatives if appropriate.

• A fixed price cost for the contract, in terms of a daily rate (per 7.5 hour day), inclusive of VAT.

• A list of relevant qualifications and experience.

Tender evaluation criteria

The contract will be awarded based on the most economically advantageous and effective tender, as assessed against the following criteria:

Evaluation will be based on an assessment of the CVs held for proposed deliverers specified for each priority area (plus any supplementary information on these individuals contained in tender bids) against the skills/knowledge requirements for the contract (as set out in this specification).

Tender submission deadline

25 November 2026

All tenders must be received before 23:59 on 25th November 2026. 

Submit here