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Perilous
Times
UK wild bird numbers continue to fall
New figures show populations of farmland birds at record low, with
woodland birds also experiencing a 40% decline
* James Meikle
* guardian.co.uk, Thursday 20 January 2011 14.15 GMT
A song thrush Huge falls have been recorded for the song thrush, a
woodland bird. Photograph: Rex Features/BYB
Populations of wild birds in the UK are falling dramatically with
even slight recent recoveries apparently stalled, government
figures showed today.
Only seabird populations remain comfortably above 1970 levels,
while farmland bird numbers continue to plunge from a brief
mid-1970s peak to half those of 40 years ago.
Habitat changes responsible for fewer nesting sites and food
shortages were blamed last summer for sharp English farmbird
losses but the reasons for a 40% decline in woodland birds are
less clear, according to the RSPB.
However research led by the British Trust for Ornithology has
suggested agricultural intensification has also hit birds
favouring wet grassland and moorland. Less vegetation cover and
scrub, overgrazing by deer, more drainage of nearby farmland and
changing winter climate may all be factors in the woodland bird
decline.
Some farmland birds, such as the grey partridge, turtle dove,
starling, tree sparrow, corn bunting and yellow wagtail have
declined by over 70% over the period of official monitoring based
on annual surveys of breeding sites and other data relating to 121
species. But wood pigeon and jackdaw populations have doubled and
stock dove and greenfinch numbers risen by 50%.
Among woodland birds, huge falls have been recorded for wood
warbler, willow tit, tree pipit, lesser spotted woodpecker,
blackbird, bunnock, song thrush and tawny owl, among others. Yet
black cap, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, nuthatch
and long-tailed tit are thriving.
Overall figures for water and wetland birds, where comparative
figures have existed only since the mid-1970s, have been more
stable, although here too there are successes and failures.
Species that are used to slow flowing and standing water have
increased by 73%, while the index for those preferring wet
grassland has fallen by 56% and those favouring fast-flowing water
is 17% down. Reedbed birds – including reed warbler and reed
bunting – have shown a general recovery until recently.
Seabirds such as the guillemot remain relatively abundant, but
kittiwakes and arctic skuas are in decline, the figures show.
Wintering wildfowl and wader populations remain well above
mid-1970 levels but have fallen from 1990s peaks. European
white-fronted goose, mallard, pochard, pintail, scaup,
oystercatcher, redshank and ringed plover are among those in
decline, but there are more than tenfold increases in Svalbard
light-bellied Brent goose and gadwall and a six-fold rise in
black-tailed godwit.
Populations of wild birds
Mark Avery, the RSPB's conservation director, said: "It is
staggering that farmland birds, such as the turtle dove and
lapwing, have reached such a low ebb. But the good news is that we
know how to turn around these declines."
A secure future for farmland wildlife rested with farmers being
financially rewarded for managing land in an environmentally
friendly way, through agri-environment schemes, he said.
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
is currently reviewing key entry level stewardship (ELS) payments
to farmers, which cover 70% of England's farmland. "Defra only has
to tweak ELS a little to ensure a recovery in farmland birds such
as skylarks and corn buntings," said Avery.
The RSPB said a "staggering" 50 of 250 species occuring regularly
in Britain were now on a growing "red" list of species whose
conservation was a concern, the latest being the cuckoo.
Richard Benyon, minister for the natural environment in England,
said: "Our bird populations are a good indicator of the wider
health of our environment and it is clear that more needs to be
done to support the recovery of farmland and woodland birds. Many
people will have a part to play and we look forward to working
with charities and landowners to reverse this trend."
Benyon said the government was doing "more than ever" to protect
our wildlife. "The area of land protected or managed under
woodland and agri-environment schemes is increasing. The condition
of our protected sites is improving and it is great to see members
of the public giving more of their time to conservation
volunteering."
A white paper on the natural environment will be published this
spring.