Fwd: A bird's eye view of insect declines

[michael_priaulx]

Hi all,

Please find attached a new report by Stuart Reynolds of the University of Bath, so that you are aware of it.

It does infer a link between insect decline (specifically for pasture land) and House Martin/ Barn Swallow/ Common Swift decline, although it's worth noting the report does state that a link can't currently be proven as there's insufficient research to demonstrate it. It is stating that if there were a link, then the statistics would back it up.

We've discussed here before that many SLN members consider insect declines to be a much smaller factor than nest site availability, 

based on observed gains and losses of population due to swift box projects and destroyed colonies respectively, plus data sources such as the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

So I think this report should be seen as an interesting review of data but not proof of a link between insect numbers and Swift decline.

All the best,

Mike

Member of SLN Swifts & Planning Group 

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