Alarm sounded for farmland birds

[Guest guest]

We used to hear skylarks all the time, but not over recent years. We

also used to have yellowhammers visit the feeders, but not for the

last couple of years. We haven't had sparrows for about 20years :-(

 

Jo

 

Skylarks continue to decline in number

The latest health check on UK bird numbers paints an alarming picture

of decline in several threatened species.

Of 26 bird species targeted for special conservation efforts in 1995,

nine - including the song thrush - are bouncing back.

 

But the rest - including the skylark and turtle dove - are either

still in decline or have only stable numbers.

 

The State of the UK's Birds report was published by three

conservation groups and four government agencies.

 

The report suggests that most of the rare species have increased,

while the more widespread species have generally continued to

decline.

 

" There is good news and bad news.

 

'WIDESPREAD' SPECIES

Song thrush: Increasing

Tree sparrow: Early stage of increase

Skylark, grey partridge, turtle dove and bullfinch: Declining

 

" The good news tends to be with those rare, localised species where

an organisation like the RSPB or others fix it, because it's a local

job, " said Martin Avery, conservation director at the RSPB, one of

the organisations behind the report.

 

" But the birds we're still really worried about are farmland birds

that should be common everywhere, not just on nature reserves.

 

" These birds include the skylark, the tree sparrow, the corn bunting

and the yellowhammer. "

 

In 1995, birds whose UK populations had halved in number over 25

years, or those birds under threat of global extinction, were treated

as the highest conservation priorities by the government, which

agreed targets for arresting wildlife decline by 2010.

 

Each of 26 species received a dedicated " biodiversity action plan "

(BAP).

 

SCARCE SPECIES

Bittern, woodlark, nightjar: Increasing

Cirl bunting, corncrake and stone-curlew: increasing but have not

recolonised former ranges

Ten of the 26 species are considered widespread as they occur across

many parts of the UK.

 

The song thrush is a clear winner among the widespread birds, and has

increased by 18% in the last 11 years. But it still has a long way to

go to recover to former levels.

 

The tree sparrow also appears to be in the very early stages of

recovery, following a massive decline.

 

But seven of the 10 widespread species, including the skylark, grey

partridge, turtle dove and bullfinch, continue to decline.

 

The turtle dove has almost halved in number since the creation of the

BAP.

 

Scarcer birds such as the bittern, woodlark, and the nightjar have

all increased.

 

Formerly much more widespread across the UK, the populations of some

rare species, such as the cirl bunting, corncrake and stone-curlew,

have also increased.

 

 

Corncrakes have benefited from targeted conservation efforts

 

But they still have not managed to recolonise most of their former

range, largely remaining at higher density in core hotspots.

 

 

Dr Phil Grice, of English Nature, commented: " Tackling the declines

in widespread bird species will require sympathetic land management

right across the countryside and not just on nature reserves.

 

" The UK's various agri-environment schemes... now include measures

targeted on declining farmland birds, such as the skylark and grey

partridge.

 

" If enough farmers take part in these schemes, there is every chance

that we will see a turnaround in the fortunes of the declining

species over the coming decade. "

 

The report was compiled by the RSPB, the British Trust for

Ornithology, the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust, The Countryside Council

for Wales, English Nature, Environment and Heritage Service (Northern

Ireland), Scottish Natural Heritage and Birdwatch.