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Woodland birds make a charge into UK gardens
 Autumn 2012: garden bird winners
Woodland birds are pouring into gardens amidst reports of patchy seed and nut availability in the countryside. Eye-catching Siskin, Brambling, Nuthatch, Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker are leading the way, new results from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) reveal.
This winter is shaping up to be one of the most exciting ever for garden bird enthusiasts. Latest findings from BTO Garden BirdWatch, a year-round survey of garden wildlife, show that over 80% of our frequently spotted garden bird species have been more abundant over recent weeks compared with 2009–2011. Most striking has been the increase of birds that we normally associate with woodland. Siskin and Brambling, both colourful and sociable members of the finch family, have been four times more numerous in gardens this autumn compared with recent years. Patchy seed availability in the countryside appears to be forcing these birds out of woodland, while bird foods such as sunflower hearts and nyjer seed are drawing them into gardens. Berries also appear to be thin on the ground in parts of the countryside this autumn. In gardens, however, different fruits and berries are available owing to the presence of many native and non-native trees and shrubs. Perusing these morsels in unusually high numbers this autumn have been several members of the thrush family, most notably Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare. Tim Harrison, BTO Garden BirdWatch, commented: “Our woodlands have hit the headlines over recent weeks due to Ash dieback disease. These new results, collected weekly by volunteer birdwatchers in partnership with the BTO, highlight the importance of gardens to birds when woodland seeds and nuts, such as those produced by Beech, oak and Ash, become scarce.” He added: “October saw levels of garden bird activity that we would normally expect at the end of November, so we are already well ahead of the curve this year. As winter draws in and natural foods are depleted yet further, people can expect to see lots more birds on their feeders.” Dr Harrison concluded with some feeding advice: “Aim to provide a range of bird foods in your garden, such as suet blocks for tits, sunflower hearts and nyjer seed for finches, mealworms for Robins, ground seed mixes for Dunnocks and apples and pears for thrushes. Then, just sit back and let the BTO know what you see.” www.bto.org Latest results from GBFS show record numbers of Bullfinches coming to feeders Photo: John Harding
Latest results from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Garden Bird Feeding Survey (GBFS) – the longest-running survey of garden birds in the world – show that record numbers of the resplendent Bullfinch are using garden feeding stations. As the clocks go back and we get lighter mornings at breakfast time, the BTO is encouraging householders to look out for this cracking bird.
The stunning and normally shy Bullfinch is being spotted in unprecedented numbers at garden feeding stations, new results from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) reveal. Gardens appear to be particularly important for Bullfinches. Their overall breeding population dropped sharply during the 1970s and 1980s, and has remained at a similar level since. The same decline did not happen in gardens, however, and since the mid-1990s the number of Bullfinches coming to feeders has exhibited more than a six-fold increase. These eye-catching results suggest that Bullfinches are following in the wing-beats of Goldfinches, profiting from modern bird foods, such as sunflower hearts, and from new feeder designs. They also indicate that bird feeders may be compensating for food shortages elsewhere. Bullfinches rely mainly on seeds during winter, but important weeds, including chickweed, dandelion and sorrel, are harder to find in our modern intensively managed landscapes. Mike Dilger, naturalist on The One Show and author of the book My Garden and Other Animals, speaks effusively about this species: “Bullfinches are, quite simply, my favourite garden bird. Watching this dapper and yet surprisingly acrobatic species in my garden provided me with a real ‘road to Damascus’ moment in my birdwatching life recently, as I watched a male hover like a turbo-charged hummingbird whilst systematically relieving a dandelion clock of its seeds. It opened up my eyes to both the wonderful birds and amazing behaviour that can be seen right on our own doorsteps. It’s so exciting that more and more people are getting to see this gorgeous garden bird.” Bullfinches prefer certain gardens over others. Notably, they like thick cover that accommodates their reclusive habits, so mature vegetation in and around gardens is ideal. Gardens in the west of the UK have the highest reporting rates, with more Welsh householders hosting Bullfinches than those in England and Scotland. Dr Tim Harrison, of the BTO Garden Ecology Team, commented: “After an extra hour in bed, why not take a look out of your window to see which birds are visiting your garden? Who knows, you might just spot a real garden beauty – the brilliant Bullfinch. The BTO wants your sightings – whichever birds you see, at whatever time of year, make your garden count for conservation with us.” www.bto.org Immigrant Finches & Thrushes put strain on UK resources
Reports from across Britain indicate that fruit and seed crops are poor this autumn, suggesting that many birds will face tough times over the months ahead. Competition for tree seeds and hedgerow berries will be fierce, with added strain coming from large numbers of immigrant finches and thrushes, on the move and heading this way from Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. The BTO is calling for volunteers to help monitor these welcome visitors so that researchers can find out which habitats and resources are the most important.
Britain is a key wintering destination for immigrant thrushes, including the many thousands of Blackbirds, Redwings and Fieldfares currently pouring into the country. Once here, these birds compete with resident individuals for resources, including the berries that adorn our hedgerows, bushes and garden shrubs. With some thrush populations in widespread decline, the BTO is keen to find out how our wintering thrushes are using the resources available to them, highlighting which habitats and berry stocks are used and when. The BTO needs volunteers, particularly those who walk a regular route, willing to record the thrushes that they see while out and about. By noting the locations of the thrushes that they see and submitting simple notes of what the birds are doing, volunteers can make an important contribution to our understanding. As John Marchant, the Survey Organiser at the BTO, notes, “This is a survey that anyone can take part in, whether new to birdwatching or an experienced BTO surveyor. There will be a wealth of online resources, from species identification videos, photographs and audio material, to guides on berries, fruit and crops that are likely to be important for thrushes. If you have a regular winter walk, and you see thrushes, then this survey is for you.” More information on the Winter Thrushes Survey can be found at www.bto.org/winter-thrushes-survey A parallel piece of work, organised by the BTO’s Garden Ecology Team, is looking at how thrushes use the berries available on garden shrubs. This aspect of the study is ideally suited to those who watch the birds in their garden and is open to anyone. Mike Toms, Head of Garden Ecology at the BTO, explains, "We are really keen to involve gardeners and garden birdwatchers in this new project and need their help to build up a national picture of which fruits and berries are available and which birds are using them. In addition to some simple weekly recording throughout the winter, we also need some people to carry out some more detailed work by participating in timed counts of birds eating berries.” A free enquiry pack, containing more information on the survey, recording forms and advice on making your garden more attractive to birds is available from Birds and Garden Berries Study, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU, by calling 01842-750050 or by emailing gbw@bto.org. www.bto.org/winter-thrushes-survey Going for Gold! BTO's annual Garden BirdWatch results just in...
Good news folks. The annual results for the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Garden BirdWatch survey have just been published, and they have thrown up some very interesting facts, revealing nearly five times as many gardens with Goldfinch but half the number of gardens with Song Thrush. How things have changed in 16 years!
Here's a quick run down on what it all means with the highs, lows and national differences noted. Highs: Numbers of the dazzling Goldfinch in gardens have reached an all-time high. Far more householders saw this species in 2011 compared with 1995, when the BTO Garden BirdWatch first commenced. This meteoric rise has seen Goldfinches rocket from number 20 in the garden bird ‘league table’ to number 10. National differences: England topped the podium for Goldfinches in 2011, with 58% of gardens visited during a typical week, compared with 53% in Wales and 49% in Scotland. Meanwhile, Welsh gardens boasted the highest reporting rate for the handsome Bullfinch, which is coming into gardens increasingly. Scottish gardens were best for both Starling and Greenfinch – although numbers of these species in gardens across the UK last year were at their lowest in almost a decade. Lows: After a succession of cold winters, numbers of the diminutive Wren visiting gardens have dropped. Compared with the long-term Garden BirdWatch average, as calculated from 1995–2010, around one in three householders have now lost this beautiful songster. Another cherished voice that is ebbing away is that of the Song Thrush, with half as many gardens visited during a typical week last year compared with 1995. Through the year-round recording of BTO Garden BirdWatchers, fascinating seasonal patterns emerged as their volunteers kept simple weekly records of the birds in their gardens. During late winter in 2011, Brambling numbers soared, up by almost 250% on the same period in 2009 and 2010. Spring 2011 saw numbers of Goldfinch and Bullfinch in gardens rise well above the average of the previous two years, while numbers of Siskins spotted in gardens during last summer were up by a quarter. Gardens were relatively quiet during autumn and early winter last year, with thrushes particularly notable by their absence – Blackbird numbers, for example, were down by 41% compared with the same period in 2009 and 2010. Dr Tim Harrison, BTO Garden BirdWatch, commented: “With the Olympics just around the corner, it is appropriate that Goldfinches are leading the race into gardens. Improved foods and feeder designs, coupled with feeding pressures in the wider countryside, appear to be driving this and other farmland species – such as Bullfinch, Reed Bunting and Lesser Redpoll – into gardens.” He added: “Every season and every region has its garden bird highlights. The size of the influx of Brambling last winter, for instance, exceeded all previous Garden BirdWatch records. English gardens are the best place to see species such as Blackcap and Long-tailed Tit, Welsh gardens Blue Tit and Robin, and Scottish gardens Tree Sparrow and Coal Tit.” He concluded: “For every garden bird success story – such as Goldfinch and Bullfinch – there is, unfortunately, a species faring less well. Mistle Thrush, for example, is really struggling. During 2011 the percentage of gardens visited by this imposing thrush was at its lowest point in the 16-year history of BTO Garden BirdWatch, and it is now largely absent from gardens in Greater London.” To view average Garden BirdWatch reporting rates 1995 vs. 2011 – please visit here www.bto.org 100,000 homes needed for returning troubled Swifts this Spring Photograph: John Black
This spring, an estimated 100,000 pairs of Swifts will return from their winter holidays in Africa to once again grace the skies of Britain, and they will need somewhere to raise a brood of youngsters.
Many of these iconic birds will make their way back to the same nest that they have used for several years, but for some the old nest will no longer be available. As we repair our soffits, insulate the loft and replace the old roof with a new one we block-up the holes, nooks and crannies that provide Swifts with just what they need to make a home for the summer. As part of National Nest Box Week (NNBW), 14-21 February, the British Trust for Ornithology, in partnership with Jacobi Jayne, and with support from Swift Conservation, are encouraging people to make and put up nest boxes for these wonderful birds. Jeff Baker of the BTO, said, “The Swift is in trouble. During the last decade we have lost over a quarter of our breeding pairs so now is a good time to try and help this majestic summer visitor before it is too late. By putting up a nest box just under our eaves we can provide the much needed nesting space that has been lost.” Edward Mayer, of the Swift Conservation advice service, commented, “There are many different ways of accommodating Swifts on your property, from purpose made boxes that fit into a wall, to more traditional wooden boxes that can be fitted close to the roof. There really is a solution for everyone and every Swift, so go on, fit a Swift box this National Nest Box Week! You can find out how to do it at our website www.swift-conservation.org”. NNBW isn’t just about Swifts. Launched on Valentine’s Day, this is traditionally the time of year when birds begin to pair-up prior to the forthcoming breeding season, so now is a great time to put up a nest box in your garden. There are many different types that can be used, from a traditional box with a 25mm hole for Blue Tits and Coal Tits, to one with a 45mm hole for Starlings. More than 60 species of birds have been recorded using nest boxes. Most commonly, Blue and Great Tits, House Sparrows and Starlings will use the typical round hole design, while Robins and Spotted Flycatchers prefer open-fronted boxes. House Sparrows, Starlings and Spotted Flycatchers are all red-listed species of conservation concern. For more information, you can visit the BTO website below this article. www.bto.org |
BTO's 'Winter Thrushes Survey' begins
 Mistle Thrush. Photo: Tommy Holden.
Wednesday 12th September 2012 marks the start of the new British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Winter Thrushes Survey. Over the next two winters, BTO will be asking people across the UK to record where and when they encounter any of our six species of thrush (Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare and Ring Ouzel), either found here on migration or during the winter months.
Populations of all six species have shown signs of decline over the last 40 years. Blackbird, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush have largely sedentary populations in the UK but the Blackbird population is heavily augmented each winter by huge arrivals of immigrants from Scandinavia and continental Europe, along with a sometimes massive winter influx of Redwing and Fieldfare from Scandinavia and Iceland. It is clear that these birds find something to their liking in the British countryside during the winter months. The aim of the survey is to discover exactly what this is and to determine seasonal and geographical patterns of how thrushes use the countryside. John Marchant, the Survey Organiser at the BTO, said, “This is a survey that anyone can take part in, whether new to birdwatching or an experienced BTO surveyor. There will be a wealth of online resources, from species identification videos, photographs and audio material, to guides on berries, fruit and crops that are likely to be important for thrushes. If you have a regular winter walk, and you see thrushes, then this survey is for you.” In the UK, thrushes show a strong liking for berries such as hawthorn, blackthorn, ivy and holly in the first part of the winter, and then forage extensively for earthworms, snails and other invertebrates later in the season. An important aspect of the survey will be to record which food sources the birds are using at different times and places. It will also look at how changes in the countryside have affected thrush populations and how important food resources provided by gardens, orchards, hedgerows and woodlands are to their winter survival. To take part in the survey, and help find answers to these questions, all you will have to do is map the thrushes you see on your favourite winter walk, or in your local neighbourhood, observe their habitat and behaviour and report details to the survey using a simple online recording system. The survey will run from 12 September 2012 to early April 2013 and again in winter 2013/14. For more information on BTO you can visit their website at www.bto.org Fabulous Siskins are flooding into UK gardens
 photo: grayimages/BTO
Siskins are making a record splash in gardens this summer, as the latest results from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Garden BirdWatch survey reveal. The influx, which has been most dramatic in Scotland and Wales, is unprecedented and appears to be the result of a good breeding season.
Over the past few weeks, BTO Garden BirdWatchers have been charting an unprecedented movement of Siskins into gardens, where the birds have been seen feeding on sunflower hearts and nyger seed provided in hanging seed feeders. The scale of the influx has staggered researchers monitoring how and when birds use gardens and the resources they provide. As Mike Toms, BTO Head of Garden Ecology, comments “The scale of this movement into gardens has caught us by surprise. At this time of the year we would normally see Siskins reported from one in twenty gardens nationwide but this year the figure has jumped to one in seven. In Scotland and Wales these delightful finches are being reported from roughly half of the gardens from which we receive weekly reports." He continued “We believe that the influx stems from the combination of a good breeding season – the Siskin is an early breeder so probably benefitted from the good weather at the start of the year – and the poor weather of recent weeks – with the birds turning to garden feeding stations because of difficulty in finding food elsewhere.” The BTO has charted a long-term increase in Siskin numbers nationally, the birds benefitting from the extensive areas of conifer plantation that are now reaching maturity and producing seed. Siskins feed and nest in conifer plantations, their population having increased by 77% since 2004. www.bto.org/gbw Mixed fortunes for wintering waterbirds
The latest figures collected by Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) volunteers illustrate the importance of the UK’s wetlands for wintering waterbirds – particularly so during harsh winters such as 2010/11, the coldest across the UK for 35 years. During such winters, these sites often act as a refuge for birds forced out of frozen continental Europe.
The UK supports internationally important numbers of wildfowl and waders in winter, many of which come here from breeding areas as far away as Canada and Siberia. Populations of many species have declined in recent years, some due to changing distributions in response to milder winter weather. The severe conditions experienced in the 2010/11 winter, described in the latest Waterbirds in the UK report, had strong effects on a number of migratory waterbirds. Birds like European White-fronted Goose, Mallard, Teal and Lapwing arrived to the UK in force from deeply frozen parts of Europe. This was in contrast to previous winters during which these and other species had declined in the UK, at least partly due to milder conditions. However, despite the weather, numbers of others such as Pochard and Ringed Plover, fell further in 2010/11, to their lowest ever levels. This is a strong indication that those species may be suffering from wider problems across Europe – there is a need for research and international collaboration to understand the problems being faced. The UK’s two largest inland wetlands, the Somerset Levels and the Ouse Washes, attracted especially large numbers of birds in the 2010/11 winter. At the Somerset Levels, over 50,000 Wigeon and 70,000 Lapwing were both exceptional peaks – tangible evidence of the importance of these sites as cold weather refuges, and the benefits of wetland habitat management. Some waterbirds continue to flourish in the UK – winter populations of Gadwall, Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit have never been higher! But among the 60 waterbird species wintering in the UK for which population trends are produced, eight native species have declined by more than a quarter in the last 25 years:
Chas Holt, WeBS Organiser at the British Trust for Ornithology, said: “Over 3,000 WeBS volunteers braved the freezing winter of 2010/11 to count the UK’s internationally important waterbird populations. We are indebted to their efforts. Against a recent history of population changes during milder winters, this fantastic effort is fundamental in helping to understand the response to periods of unexpectedly cold weather. The counts also contribute to the International Waterbird Census and thus help in the understanding of changes taking place across the wider world.” Simon Wotton, Senior Conservation Scientist at RSPB said: “The results of the 2010/11 winter show how important protected areas are for the wintering waterbirds. The increased use of the Somerset Levels and Ouse Washes during this cold winter, where large areas are managed by conservation bodies including RSPB, Natural England and WWT, show how valuable well managed wetlands can be to birds who need a safe place to go when the continent freezes over. The latest figures highlight the importance of this long-running survey and the importance of volunteer surveyors.” David Stroud, Senior Ornithologist at Joint Nature Conservation Committee, said: “The events of the 2010/11 winter were a reminder that we need to co-opera_te internationally to ensure the effective conservation of these mobile waterbirds. Neighbouring countries are just a short flight away, and the UK needs to continue to work to ensure common approaches for waterbird conservation and management throughout their migratory ranges. Continued support for international treaties such as the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the European Union’s Birds Directive and the Agreement on the conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds, is especially important.” Richard Hearn, Head of Monitoring at Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, said: “The Wetland Bird Survey and other waterbird monitoring schemes have again demonstrated their worth by producing results that remind us of the continued importance of Britain and Ireland as a cold weather refuge for migratory waterbirds. It is essential that internationally important wetlands such as the Severn Estuary continue to provide the disturbance-free habitat that these species need to survive the harsh winters that some predict may become more frequent in the future.” Discover more about the BTO's conservation work and how you can get involved by visiting www.bto.org |
BTO to help UK householders brush up on their thrush ID skills before BGBW
With the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch just around the corner, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is helping householders to brush up on their ID skills, ready for the big event. Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush are two garden species that are readily confused, so the BTO has launched a free guide to help.
Gardens are a valuable habitat for Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush, both species of conservation concern, so counting their numbers correctly is important. Further to the BTO’s year-round Garden BirdWatch survey, the RSPB will hold their annual Big Garden Birdwatch on the last weekend of January 2012. With thousands of people taking part, now is a great time for householders to refresh their thrush ID skills.
To help, the BTO has produced a free guide to Song and Mistle Thrushes. The BTO is renowned for its expertise in species identification, being the leading bird research organisation in the UK and coordinator of the nation’s most respected bird surveys. The
BTO has also recently launched a series of species web-based identification videos, including one on Song and Mistle Thrush.
This January should be a particularly good time to look out for these birds. The unseasonably mild winter has seen Song Thrushes already in good voice across much of the country, preparing to breed, while Mistle Thrushes are always one of the earliest singers of the year. The BTO’s weekly Garden BirdWatch survey shows that both species peak in their use of gardens around this time of year, so participants in the RSPB scheme should certainly keep their eyes peeled.
Both Song and Mistle Thrush move into gardens during late winter as berry stocks in the wider countryside are depleted. The last two winters show how their numbers in gardens can increase dramatically if cold weather bites, and how morsels provided by householders, such as fresh and windfall fruit, can be particularly important.
Tim Harrison, of the BTO Garden Ecology Team, commented: “Research shows that urbanised habitats have become very important for Song and Mistle Thrushes. With broader concerns about the health of their populations, charting their numbers in gardens correctly is important.”
He added: “BTO data show that Song Thrushes had a bumper breeding season in 2011, but with so many inexperienced birds now on the scene it is important that we help them as best we can. This is done by providing food and water, and also by recording them accurately. This is where the free BTO guide will help.”
www.bto.org
Gardens are a valuable habitat for Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush, both species of conservation concern, so counting their numbers correctly is important. Further to the BTO’s year-round Garden BirdWatch survey, the RSPB will hold their annual Big Garden Birdwatch on the last weekend of January 2012. With thousands of people taking part, now is a great time for householders to refresh their thrush ID skills.
To help, the BTO has produced a free guide to Song and Mistle Thrushes. The BTO is renowned for its expertise in species identification, being the leading bird research organisation in the UK and coordinator of the nation’s most respected bird surveys. The
BTO has also recently launched a series of species web-based identification videos, including one on Song and Mistle Thrush.
This January should be a particularly good time to look out for these birds. The unseasonably mild winter has seen Song Thrushes already in good voice across much of the country, preparing to breed, while Mistle Thrushes are always one of the earliest singers of the year. The BTO’s weekly Garden BirdWatch survey shows that both species peak in their use of gardens around this time of year, so participants in the RSPB scheme should certainly keep their eyes peeled.
Both Song and Mistle Thrush move into gardens during late winter as berry stocks in the wider countryside are depleted. The last two winters show how their numbers in gardens can increase dramatically if cold weather bites, and how morsels provided by householders, such as fresh and windfall fruit, can be particularly important.
Tim Harrison, of the BTO Garden Ecology Team, commented: “Research shows that urbanised habitats have become very important for Song and Mistle Thrushes. With broader concerns about the health of their populations, charting their numbers in gardens correctly is important.”
He added: “BTO data show that Song Thrushes had a bumper breeding season in 2011, but with so many inexperienced birds now on the scene it is important that we help them as best we can. This is done by providing food and water, and also by recording them accurately. This is where the free BTO guide will help.”
www.bto.org
New BTO study: Three UK Deer species are bad news for woodland birds
Deer may be affecting some bird species on far larger scales than previously appreciated, new research has found. The study, published this week in the British Ecological Society's Journal of Applied Ecology, provides evidence that the populations of several woodland bird populations fare worse in areas that have high, rather than low, numbers of deer.
The research led by Dr Stuart Newson from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) applied new methods of analysis to large national bird and deer monitoring data. The study focused on eleven woodland bird species in lowland England and their relationships with three widespread and abundant deer species: Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and Fallow deer (Dama dama). The eleven bird species; Dunnock, Nightingale, Song Thrush, Willow Warbler, Willow Tit, Marsh Tit, Bullfinch, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Blackbird, depend on dense understorey for nesting and / or foraging. They depend on low dense vegetation in woodland and scrub, and are therefore potentially vulnerable to browsing by deer which tends to reduce this vegetation.
There was evidence that increases in deer have been associated with large-scale population declines for five of the eleven bird species. Of these, it was suggested that the impacts of deer are likely to have been greatest for two species of conservation concern, the amber listed Nightingale and the red listed Willow Tit. These two birds have declined by 54% and 65% respectively over the last ten years.
Currently deer management aimed at reducing the impacts of deer typically takes the form of excluding deer through the use of various types of fencing and / or culling of deer. According to Dr Newson, “Our results emphasise the importance of developing co-ordinated national strategies for minimising deer impacts. With numbers and ranges of deer predicted to expand even further, it is suggested that such strategies should be targeted on areas that continue to support concentrations of species that are especially vulnerable to over-browsing by deer.”
This study is not suggesting that deer are the only, or even the main factor driving woodland bird declines; many other factors are potentially implicated. Nonetheless, these findings build on earlier experimental work carried out on nightingales by the BTO that has showed that deer can reduce habitat quality for this species. "More widely, growing evidence from other parts of the world suggests that increases in deer abundance may be depressing population levels of breeding woodland birds that are associated with dense understorey habitats." This study is important because it indicates that deer browsing may affect some bird populations on a large scale.
www.bto.org
The research led by Dr Stuart Newson from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) applied new methods of analysis to large national bird and deer monitoring data. The study focused on eleven woodland bird species in lowland England and their relationships with three widespread and abundant deer species: Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and Fallow deer (Dama dama). The eleven bird species; Dunnock, Nightingale, Song Thrush, Willow Warbler, Willow Tit, Marsh Tit, Bullfinch, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Blackbird, depend on dense understorey for nesting and / or foraging. They depend on low dense vegetation in woodland and scrub, and are therefore potentially vulnerable to browsing by deer which tends to reduce this vegetation.
There was evidence that increases in deer have been associated with large-scale population declines for five of the eleven bird species. Of these, it was suggested that the impacts of deer are likely to have been greatest for two species of conservation concern, the amber listed Nightingale and the red listed Willow Tit. These two birds have declined by 54% and 65% respectively over the last ten years.
Currently deer management aimed at reducing the impacts of deer typically takes the form of excluding deer through the use of various types of fencing and / or culling of deer. According to Dr Newson, “Our results emphasise the importance of developing co-ordinated national strategies for minimising deer impacts. With numbers and ranges of deer predicted to expand even further, it is suggested that such strategies should be targeted on areas that continue to support concentrations of species that are especially vulnerable to over-browsing by deer.”
This study is not suggesting that deer are the only, or even the main factor driving woodland bird declines; many other factors are potentially implicated. Nonetheless, these findings build on earlier experimental work carried out on nightingales by the BTO that has showed that deer can reduce habitat quality for this species. "More widely, growing evidence from other parts of the world suggests that increases in deer abundance may be depressing population levels of breeding woodland birds that are associated with dense understorey habitats." This study is important because it indicates that deer browsing may affect some bird populations on a large scale.
www.bto.org
Well stocked British garden feeders spark biggest seen species rise since the Seventies
Fresh off the press today (Oct 27), arrives heartening news that will please all caring garden owners as official new results from the British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) Garden Bird Feeding Survey (GBFS) show that the number of species seen during autumn and winter is up by almost 50% since the 1970s.
The results from the GBFS show that during the 1970s an average garden feeding station hosted 16 species during autumn and winter. This figure rose sharply to 21 species last decade before reaching an all-time high of 23 species last winter – up by half (49%) on the winter of 1970–71, when the GBFS commenced. During this winter the BTO's GBFS examined the increasingly popular activity of providing food for birds in gardens and is the longest-running study of its kind in the world. Observations are made on a weekly basis from October to March, with the maximum number of each species seen using food or water provided, or observed hunting the birds that are using these resources, recorded. The GBFS encompasses approximately 250 gardens in each year that are selected carefully from the larger BTO Garden BirdWatch survey to ensure good geographical coverage across the UK, and a roughly even split between rural and suburban garden types.
While numbers of some species – including House Sparrow, Song Thrush and Starling – have declined, the huge influx of other species has resulted in an overall increase. The main winners have been:
Gone are the days when feeding garden birds was centred on kitchen scraps, suet-filled coconut shells and monkey nuts threaded on string. Today, garden bird feeding is a multi-million pound industry, with a bewildering array of nutritious food and feeders on offer.
Some 40–50% of UK householders are now thought to feed birds in their gardens, with an estimated 50–60 thousand tonnes of bird food provided per annum. With feeding opportunities changing rapidly, the GBFS is playing an essential role in charting effects on birds.
GBFS data show that many species – including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Jay and Chaffinch – use garden feeding stations more when natural foods are in short supply. While the trend for more species using garden feeders is great news for householders, it does raise important questions about the availability of food for birds in the wider countryside.
Tim Harrison, BTO Garden Ecology Team, commented: “Changes in farming practices and woodland management appear to be pushing individuals of many species out of these habitats, while increased availability of specialist bird foods and feeders is pulling them into gardens.”
David Glue, BTO Research Ecologist, added: “Over its 41-year history, a total of 177 species have been recorded using garden feeding stations through the GBFS, highlighting the important role that gardens can play.”
www.bto.org
The results from the GBFS show that during the 1970s an average garden feeding station hosted 16 species during autumn and winter. This figure rose sharply to 21 species last decade before reaching an all-time high of 23 species last winter – up by half (49%) on the winter of 1970–71, when the GBFS commenced. During this winter the BTO's GBFS examined the increasingly popular activity of providing food for birds in gardens and is the longest-running study of its kind in the world. Observations are made on a weekly basis from October to March, with the maximum number of each species seen using food or water provided, or observed hunting the birds that are using these resources, recorded. The GBFS encompasses approximately 250 gardens in each year that are selected carefully from the larger BTO Garden BirdWatch survey to ensure good geographical coverage across the UK, and a roughly even split between rural and suburban garden types.
While numbers of some species – including House Sparrow, Song Thrush and Starling – have declined, the huge influx of other species has resulted in an overall increase. The main winners have been:
- Goldfinch (1% of gardens in the 1970s, 61% now)
- Long-tailed Tit (3% of gardens in the 1970s, 29% now)
- Woodpigeon (5% of gardens in the 1970s, 67% now)
- Great Spotted Woodpecker (7% of gardens in the 1970s, 30% now)
- Nuthatch (9% of gardens in the 1970s, 22% now)
Gone are the days when feeding garden birds was centred on kitchen scraps, suet-filled coconut shells and monkey nuts threaded on string. Today, garden bird feeding is a multi-million pound industry, with a bewildering array of nutritious food and feeders on offer.
Some 40–50% of UK householders are now thought to feed birds in their gardens, with an estimated 50–60 thousand tonnes of bird food provided per annum. With feeding opportunities changing rapidly, the GBFS is playing an essential role in charting effects on birds.
GBFS data show that many species – including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Jay and Chaffinch – use garden feeding stations more when natural foods are in short supply. While the trend for more species using garden feeders is great news for householders, it does raise important questions about the availability of food for birds in the wider countryside.
Tim Harrison, BTO Garden Ecology Team, commented: “Changes in farming practices and woodland management appear to be pushing individuals of many species out of these habitats, while increased availability of specialist bird foods and feeders is pulling them into gardens.”
David Glue, BTO Research Ecologist, added: “Over its 41-year history, a total of 177 species have been recorded using garden feeding stations through the GBFS, highlighting the important role that gardens can play.”
www.bto.org
Houses with gardens are officially great news for declining House Sparrows
House Sparrow: in decline
New research aired this week has underlined the importance of gardens for the declining House Sparrow. By looking at the location of House Sparrow colonies in towns and cities across Britain, BTO researchers have discovered that houses with gardens are preferred over other forms of urban green space (e.g. parks). This knowledge can be used to help urban planners in the decision-making process and gives hope that House Sparrow decline can be reversed.
Urban House Sparrow populations have been in decline across much of Europe since the late 1970s and the humble sparrow is now listed as a species of conservation concern. It is thought that urban sparrow populations may be influenced by several factors, including pollution levels, insect abundance, nest site availability and the presence of predators.
The importance within urban areas of houses with gardens has just been established by researchers working on the BTO House Sparrow Survey dataset. Residential areas with gardens are, it seems, preferred over all other forms of urban green space. As Mike Toms, BTO Head of Garden Ecology, explains:
"Our research suggests that much of the green space in our towns and cities is unsuitable for breeding sparrows. When you think about it this makes a lot of sense. Urban parks, for example, tend to be rather open habitats, with little in the way of the dense scrubby cover that sparrows favour and few nesting opportunities. Large urban gardens, or groups of smaller gardens that back onto one another, usually have some thick bushes in which the sparrows can gather and, importantly, they have nesting opportunities in nest boxes and the cavities under roof tiles."
He continued: "Understanding the importance of urban gardens for House Sparrows means that we can advise planners and developers on how to retain and encourage House Sparrow populations within our changing urban landscape. Our research suggests, for example, that urban infilling through ‘garden grabbing’ is likely to be highly detrimental to House Sparrows."
The BTO advise that Individual homeowners can encourage House Sparrows by planting Cotoneaster, Berberis and other suitable shrubs, and by offering nesting opportunities in the form of nest boxes with a 32mm diameter entrance hole.
More information can be viewed by following this link to the Spatial distribution and habitat preferences of the House Sparrow, Passer domesticus in urbanised landscapes report from the BTO.
www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw/about/background/projects/sparrows/field-survey
Urban House Sparrow populations have been in decline across much of Europe since the late 1970s and the humble sparrow is now listed as a species of conservation concern. It is thought that urban sparrow populations may be influenced by several factors, including pollution levels, insect abundance, nest site availability and the presence of predators.
The importance within urban areas of houses with gardens has just been established by researchers working on the BTO House Sparrow Survey dataset. Residential areas with gardens are, it seems, preferred over all other forms of urban green space. As Mike Toms, BTO Head of Garden Ecology, explains:
"Our research suggests that much of the green space in our towns and cities is unsuitable for breeding sparrows. When you think about it this makes a lot of sense. Urban parks, for example, tend to be rather open habitats, with little in the way of the dense scrubby cover that sparrows favour and few nesting opportunities. Large urban gardens, or groups of smaller gardens that back onto one another, usually have some thick bushes in which the sparrows can gather and, importantly, they have nesting opportunities in nest boxes and the cavities under roof tiles."
He continued: "Understanding the importance of urban gardens for House Sparrows means that we can advise planners and developers on how to retain and encourage House Sparrow populations within our changing urban landscape. Our research suggests, for example, that urban infilling through ‘garden grabbing’ is likely to be highly detrimental to House Sparrows."
The BTO advise that Individual homeowners can encourage House Sparrows by planting Cotoneaster, Berberis and other suitable shrubs, and by offering nesting opportunities in the form of nest boxes with a 32mm diameter entrance hole.
More information can be viewed by following this link to the Spatial distribution and habitat preferences of the House Sparrow, Passer domesticus in urbanised landscapes report from the BTO.
www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw/about/background/projects/sparrows/field-survey
Wetland bird numbers in decline as UK feels fallout from harsh winters
After a run of mild winters in the UK during the last decade, the two most recent have been much, much colder. Wetland birds often respond strongly to freezing conditions, moving to milder areas in search of better feeding opportunities, and the latest BTO report on numbers of wintering waterbirds in the UK shows that in 2009/10 (when the UK experienced its coldest December for 14 years) influxes of ducks such as Mallard and Teal, presumably from even colder parts of continental Europe, occurred. There were also lower numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plover wintering in the UK at this time.
Wintering population trends, covering a ten-year period since 1997/98, show that numbers of Avocet have risen by 95% and Black-tailed Godwit by 54%; both species are using our estuaries in greater numbers than ever before. However, some familiar waders are declining, such as Dunlin (down 39%), Ringed Plover (down 26%), Curlew (down 16%) and Redshank (down 13%).
There have been changes at inland wetlands too. For example, 2009/10 was the first winter ever when the total number of Gadwall counted by WeBS exceeded that of another duck, the declining Pochard. Whereas the number of Gadwalls in Britain and elsewhere in Europe has risen in recent years, the Pochard has decreased substantially, probably as a result of a shift in wintering range towards central Europe. UK counts are thus essential for helping us to understand such long-term distributional changes.
Chas Holt, WeBS Organiser at BTO, said: “In 2009/10, WeBS volunteers made over 34,000 visits to wetland sites to count waterbirds. Once again this is a fantastic effort, and fundamental in helping to illustrate what is happening to Britain’s internationally important waterbird populations. Although some familiar waders are declining in the UK partly because of range shifts in response to generally milder winters, a period of freezing conditions can have profound effects on some species. Collaboration with other national bird monitoring schemes helps us to place into context the increases and decreases experienced in the UK”.
Richard Gregory is the head of the RSPB's species monitoring and research section. He said: "We have every right to be concerned about the impacts of climate change on wildlife, but we have to consider the impacts of extreme weather too. Mobile species, such as ducks and wading birds, often escape the harshest conditions, highlighting the importance of maintaining a UK-wide and international network of protected sites, where millions of birds can continue to find a safe refuge."
David Stroud, JNCC’s Senior Ornithologist said:“The UK submits these WeBS counts to international monitoring programmes which allow us to understand changes of these migratory waterbird populations at wider, international scales. To that end they are a critical means by which the UK contributes to obligations under a number of international conservation treaties.”
Richard Hearn, Head of Species Monitoring at WWT said: "This year, as every year, our conservation team and reserve managers have been eagerly awaiting the WeBS results. They are a vital part of our conservation and management toolkit, and they show that many waterbird species in the UK, are now decreasing. This is worrying, but it confirms the need for WWT’s conservation activities on species such as Bewick's Swan and Greenland White-fronted Goose. Other species, such as Pochard, still visit some WWT reserves in large numbers, despite decreasing by almost a half in the UK as a whole, so we’re developing plans to further investigate their declines."
www.bto.org
Wintering population trends, covering a ten-year period since 1997/98, show that numbers of Avocet have risen by 95% and Black-tailed Godwit by 54%; both species are using our estuaries in greater numbers than ever before. However, some familiar waders are declining, such as Dunlin (down 39%), Ringed Plover (down 26%), Curlew (down 16%) and Redshank (down 13%).
There have been changes at inland wetlands too. For example, 2009/10 was the first winter ever when the total number of Gadwall counted by WeBS exceeded that of another duck, the declining Pochard. Whereas the number of Gadwalls in Britain and elsewhere in Europe has risen in recent years, the Pochard has decreased substantially, probably as a result of a shift in wintering range towards central Europe. UK counts are thus essential for helping us to understand such long-term distributional changes.
Chas Holt, WeBS Organiser at BTO, said: “In 2009/10, WeBS volunteers made over 34,000 visits to wetland sites to count waterbirds. Once again this is a fantastic effort, and fundamental in helping to illustrate what is happening to Britain’s internationally important waterbird populations. Although some familiar waders are declining in the UK partly because of range shifts in response to generally milder winters, a period of freezing conditions can have profound effects on some species. Collaboration with other national bird monitoring schemes helps us to place into context the increases and decreases experienced in the UK”.
Richard Gregory is the head of the RSPB's species monitoring and research section. He said: "We have every right to be concerned about the impacts of climate change on wildlife, but we have to consider the impacts of extreme weather too. Mobile species, such as ducks and wading birds, often escape the harshest conditions, highlighting the importance of maintaining a UK-wide and international network of protected sites, where millions of birds can continue to find a safe refuge."
David Stroud, JNCC’s Senior Ornithologist said:“The UK submits these WeBS counts to international monitoring programmes which allow us to understand changes of these migratory waterbird populations at wider, international scales. To that end they are a critical means by which the UK contributes to obligations under a number of international conservation treaties.”
Richard Hearn, Head of Species Monitoring at WWT said: "This year, as every year, our conservation team and reserve managers have been eagerly awaiting the WeBS results. They are a vital part of our conservation and management toolkit, and they show that many waterbird species in the UK, are now decreasing. This is worrying, but it confirms the need for WWT’s conservation activities on species such as Bewick's Swan and Greenland White-fronted Goose. Other species, such as Pochard, still visit some WWT reserves in large numbers, despite decreasing by almost a half in the UK as a whole, so we’re developing plans to further investigate their declines."
www.bto.org
Blackcap and Whitethroat numbers are highest for fifteen years
Distinctive male Blackcap.
The summer of 2010 brought good news for those who enjoy listening to birdsong, as numbers of two warbler species, Blackcap and Whitethroat, reached their highest levels in fifteen years, according to a BTO news report released about 5 mins ago.
The latest figures highlight the fact that shorter-distance migrants, such as Blackcap and Chiffchaff, are doing better than those that travel further, such as Turtle Dove, Cuckoo and Nightingale, which are showing continuing declines.
Many birds that fly south for the winter are showing dramatic declines, but several species of warbler are bucking the trend. Whitethroats appear to be benefiting from increased rainfall in the Sahel, the arid zone south of the Sahara where they spend the winter. Whitethroat populations crashed in the 1960s, following drought in the Sahel, but are finally starting to recover. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, which are also increasing in numbers, migrate only a short distance, down to southern Spain and northern Africa, and do not make the arduous crossing of the Sahara Desert.
However, these increases are in sharp contrast to other migrant birds, such as Turtle Doves, Cuckoos and Nightingales, which winter even further south. These are still showing severe declines, compounded by problems in their breeding habitats in the UK. Check out some of the stand-out figures for yourselves below. For those wanting to read the full report, there is a pdf here for reference.
Since 1994
We owe this detailed knowledge of bird population trends to the thousands of volunteer birdwatchers who take part in the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey, which has been the main method of keeping track of our bird populations since 1994. By listening out for the scratchy song of the Whitethroat in country lanes, or the liquid notes of the Blackcap in wooded areas, and noting down the numbers they hear during their survey visits, they help us to build a detailed picture of how our bird populations are responding to environmental pressures.
Kate Risely, BBS organiser at the British Trust for Ornithology, commented, “These BBS trends are of critical importance for research into declining bird populations. We are learning so much about our summer migrants, and it’s fascinating to see how numbers of our familiar countryside species respond to conditions thousands of miles away in Africa. So much of this knowledge is due to dedicated volunteer birdwatchers, and we are very grateful to them”
Deborah Procter, Senior Monitoring Ecologist at the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, added “The Breeding Bird Survey provides a rich source of data to help understand the conservation status of UK birds. UK population trends from the BBS enable us to investigate how species respond to multiple challenges, not only in the UK but further afield. This is illustrated in this year’s report by reference to the impacts of climate change on UK bird communities and to the perils that face migrants on their journey. Such knowledge helps government’s agencies and others target scarce resources to where conservation action is most needed. The huge volunteer effort that goes in to the survey is invaluable and makes a major contribution to the conservation of the UK’s birds”
Dr Mark Eaton, Principal Conservation Scientist in Species Monitoring and Research at the RSPB, said “The BBS tells us that many of our greatest conservation concerns are for common and widespread species, which we might otherwise take for granted. It is sobering to see that three out of every four Turtle Doves have gone in under 20 years, and we have growing concern over what happens to our summer migrants once they leave for Africa. That said, we should also celebrate those species that are increasing, particularly the Whitethroat which is finally recovering from a catastrophic crash in numbers in 1969 caused by drought in the Sahel”
www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/bbs
www.bto.org
The latest figures highlight the fact that shorter-distance migrants, such as Blackcap and Chiffchaff, are doing better than those that travel further, such as Turtle Dove, Cuckoo and Nightingale, which are showing continuing declines.
Many birds that fly south for the winter are showing dramatic declines, but several species of warbler are bucking the trend. Whitethroats appear to be benefiting from increased rainfall in the Sahel, the arid zone south of the Sahara where they spend the winter. Whitethroat populations crashed in the 1960s, following drought in the Sahel, but are finally starting to recover. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, which are also increasing in numbers, migrate only a short distance, down to southern Spain and northern Africa, and do not make the arduous crossing of the Sahara Desert.
However, these increases are in sharp contrast to other migrant birds, such as Turtle Doves, Cuckoos and Nightingales, which winter even further south. These are still showing severe declines, compounded by problems in their breeding habitats in the UK. Check out some of the stand-out figures for yourselves below. For those wanting to read the full report, there is a pdf here for reference.
Since 1994
- Blackcap +73%
- Whitethroat +25%
- Chiffchaff +52%
- Turtle Dove -74%
- Cuckoo -48%
- Nightingale -60%
We owe this detailed knowledge of bird population trends to the thousands of volunteer birdwatchers who take part in the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey, which has been the main method of keeping track of our bird populations since 1994. By listening out for the scratchy song of the Whitethroat in country lanes, or the liquid notes of the Blackcap in wooded areas, and noting down the numbers they hear during their survey visits, they help us to build a detailed picture of how our bird populations are responding to environmental pressures.
Kate Risely, BBS organiser at the British Trust for Ornithology, commented, “These BBS trends are of critical importance for research into declining bird populations. We are learning so much about our summer migrants, and it’s fascinating to see how numbers of our familiar countryside species respond to conditions thousands of miles away in Africa. So much of this knowledge is due to dedicated volunteer birdwatchers, and we are very grateful to them”
Deborah Procter, Senior Monitoring Ecologist at the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, added “The Breeding Bird Survey provides a rich source of data to help understand the conservation status of UK birds. UK population trends from the BBS enable us to investigate how species respond to multiple challenges, not only in the UK but further afield. This is illustrated in this year’s report by reference to the impacts of climate change on UK bird communities and to the perils that face migrants on their journey. Such knowledge helps government’s agencies and others target scarce resources to where conservation action is most needed. The huge volunteer effort that goes in to the survey is invaluable and makes a major contribution to the conservation of the UK’s birds”
Dr Mark Eaton, Principal Conservation Scientist in Species Monitoring and Research at the RSPB, said “The BBS tells us that many of our greatest conservation concerns are for common and widespread species, which we might otherwise take for granted. It is sobering to see that three out of every four Turtle Doves have gone in under 20 years, and we have growing concern over what happens to our summer migrants once they leave for Africa. That said, we should also celebrate those species that are increasing, particularly the Whitethroat which is finally recovering from a catastrophic crash in numbers in 1969 caused by drought in the Sahel”
www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/bbs
www.bto.org
New BTO Research: Fact - some birds can’t stand the heat
The latest research from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), just published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography, shows that the diversity of Britain’s birds has increased with a warming climate, but this was accompanied by a loss of habitat specialists.
Using Breeding Bird Survey data from 1994 onwards, scientists at the BTO found that recent temperature increases had a positive effect on the number of bird species. However, rising temperatures also had a negative effect on species with specific habitat requirements or ‘specialists’. It appears that the winners from recent climate change were already common habitat generalists that have expanded their ranges, likely at the expense of habitat specialists such as the Grey Partridge and Corn Bunting (pictured), which have declined by 50% and 29%, respectively, over the period of the study.
Overall, this means that with climate change, bird communities across the UK are becoming more similar to each other as vulnerable range-restricted species are outcompeted by more resilient common species.
Alison Johnston, BTO, commented, “This study is one of the few which has looked at the overall impact of recent climate change upon bird communities, and the first such assessment for the UK. It provides stark evidence of the impact that climate change has already had on the birds we see around us. The winners are those species that are already common and widespread, while more specialised, rarer species have lost out. If these processes continue it will lead to the homogenisation of bird communities across the UK.”
She added, “Whilst most studies on the impact of climate change on bird communities in the UK have focused on single-species, this is one of the first to explore how future climate change may continue to impact on bird communities across a large spatial scale.”
This important survey is carried out by volunteer birdwatchers throughout the UK, who receive no financial reward or expenses for their efforts. We are indebted to them for their tremendous support - BTO. To register your interest in the Breeding Bird Survey and to find out more info, head this way.
Using Breeding Bird Survey data from 1994 onwards, scientists at the BTO found that recent temperature increases had a positive effect on the number of bird species. However, rising temperatures also had a negative effect on species with specific habitat requirements or ‘specialists’. It appears that the winners from recent climate change were already common habitat generalists that have expanded their ranges, likely at the expense of habitat specialists such as the Grey Partridge and Corn Bunting (pictured), which have declined by 50% and 29%, respectively, over the period of the study.
Overall, this means that with climate change, bird communities across the UK are becoming more similar to each other as vulnerable range-restricted species are outcompeted by more resilient common species.
Alison Johnston, BTO, commented, “This study is one of the few which has looked at the overall impact of recent climate change upon bird communities, and the first such assessment for the UK. It provides stark evidence of the impact that climate change has already had on the birds we see around us. The winners are those species that are already common and widespread, while more specialised, rarer species have lost out. If these processes continue it will lead to the homogenisation of bird communities across the UK.”
She added, “Whilst most studies on the impact of climate change on bird communities in the UK have focused on single-species, this is one of the first to explore how future climate change may continue to impact on bird communities across a large spatial scale.”
This important survey is carried out by volunteer birdwatchers throughout the UK, who receive no financial reward or expenses for their efforts. We are indebted to them for their tremendous support - BTO. To register your interest in the Breeding Bird Survey and to find out more info, head this way.
12.5 million birds rely on Britain’s coasts and wetlands
Issued by the BTO on behalf of the Wetland Bird Survey partnership (BTO, JNCC and RSPB, in association with WWT).
In a scientific paper just published in the journal British Birds, a team of waterbird experts from the BTO, JNCC, RSPB and WWT estimate that 12.5 million waterbirds, of 85 different species, used our coasts and wetlands during the five winters of 2004/5 to 2008/09. Many of these breed in remote areas of the north, some arriving from as far west as Canada and as far east as Siberia, whilst others remain here all year round. These waterbirds include everything from the resident Mute Swans (74,000) and Grey Herons (61,000) in our local parks, to real globe-trotters such as Bewick’s Swans (7,000) and Turnstones (48,000).
Having reliable estimates of the number of wintering waterbirds visiting Britain is crucial for the birds’ conservation, both for assessing the health of their populations, and for the identification and protection of nationally and internationally important sites (such as the 147 Ramsar sites and 252 Special Protection Areas in Britain).
The newly published paper reveals that the numbers of some wintering species have increased, notably the Gadwall (25,000), Avocet (7,500) and Little Egret (4,500); the latter was considered a national rarity as recently as 1990. Some non-native introduced species have also increased, with an estimated 190,000 Canada Geese now at large in Britain. However, a number of others have declined alarmingly, causing concern for birds such as the Greenland White-fronted Goose (13,000), Dunlin (350,000) and Pochard (38,000).
The most numerous wintering waterbird in Britain is revealed to be the Black-headed Gull, with an estimated 2,200,000 flooding in from across northern Europe to spend the winter with us. At the other end of the scale, only about 20 Spoonbills typically spend the winter in Britain, mostly on estuaries along the milder south coast.
Dr Andy Musgrove, Head of Monitoring at the BTO, commented, “The calculation of these estimates really emphasises the enormous importance of Britain’s wetlands for waterbirds in winter. To put the figure of 12.5 million waterbirds into context, this is more than the combined human population of our ten largest cities. The figures will be used to underpin the ongoing implementation of conservation policy for coastal and wetland birds, a fitting tribute to the extraordinary effort of thousands of volunteer birdwatchers who go out in all weathers to collect the information needed to produce the estimates.”
Richard Hearn, Head of Species Monitoring at WWT, said, “Periodic reviews of waterbird abundance are essential to ensure that our conservation activities remain well prioritised. Ensuring that these national estimates are put into an international flyway context is equally important, and these new estimates for the UK will be an important part of revised international estimates currently being produced by Wetlands International.”
Simon Wotton, RSPB, said: "Our world-class coastal wetlands provide vital links in the chain of waterbird migration around the world. Designation of these areas is fundamental to their protection, not only for the millions of birds which depend on them, but also to secure the other benefits they provide from flood protection to nursery grounds for fish. Understanding bird populations and recognising the immense importance of the sites where they congregate in winter is key to protecting these places for birds and for people."
David Stroud, JNCC’s Senior Ornithologist, said: “These data provide essential context for a range of conservation programmes not only in the UK, but also more widely. Contributing these UK estimates to international assessments is important to help governments and conservation organisations prioritise scarce resources for those species most needing conservation action.”
In a scientific paper just published in the journal British Birds, a team of waterbird experts from the BTO, JNCC, RSPB and WWT estimate that 12.5 million waterbirds, of 85 different species, used our coasts and wetlands during the five winters of 2004/5 to 2008/09. Many of these breed in remote areas of the north, some arriving from as far west as Canada and as far east as Siberia, whilst others remain here all year round. These waterbirds include everything from the resident Mute Swans (74,000) and Grey Herons (61,000) in our local parks, to real globe-trotters such as Bewick’s Swans (7,000) and Turnstones (48,000).
Having reliable estimates of the number of wintering waterbirds visiting Britain is crucial for the birds’ conservation, both for assessing the health of their populations, and for the identification and protection of nationally and internationally important sites (such as the 147 Ramsar sites and 252 Special Protection Areas in Britain).
The newly published paper reveals that the numbers of some wintering species have increased, notably the Gadwall (25,000), Avocet (7,500) and Little Egret (4,500); the latter was considered a national rarity as recently as 1990. Some non-native introduced species have also increased, with an estimated 190,000 Canada Geese now at large in Britain. However, a number of others have declined alarmingly, causing concern for birds such as the Greenland White-fronted Goose (13,000), Dunlin (350,000) and Pochard (38,000).
The most numerous wintering waterbird in Britain is revealed to be the Black-headed Gull, with an estimated 2,200,000 flooding in from across northern Europe to spend the winter with us. At the other end of the scale, only about 20 Spoonbills typically spend the winter in Britain, mostly on estuaries along the milder south coast.
Dr Andy Musgrove, Head of Monitoring at the BTO, commented, “The calculation of these estimates really emphasises the enormous importance of Britain’s wetlands for waterbirds in winter. To put the figure of 12.5 million waterbirds into context, this is more than the combined human population of our ten largest cities. The figures will be used to underpin the ongoing implementation of conservation policy for coastal and wetland birds, a fitting tribute to the extraordinary effort of thousands of volunteer birdwatchers who go out in all weathers to collect the information needed to produce the estimates.”
Richard Hearn, Head of Species Monitoring at WWT, said, “Periodic reviews of waterbird abundance are essential to ensure that our conservation activities remain well prioritised. Ensuring that these national estimates are put into an international flyway context is equally important, and these new estimates for the UK will be an important part of revised international estimates currently being produced by Wetlands International.”
Simon Wotton, RSPB, said: "Our world-class coastal wetlands provide vital links in the chain of waterbird migration around the world. Designation of these areas is fundamental to their protection, not only for the millions of birds which depend on them, but also to secure the other benefits they provide from flood protection to nursery grounds for fish. Understanding bird populations and recognising the immense importance of the sites where they congregate in winter is key to protecting these places for birds and for people."
David Stroud, JNCC’s Senior Ornithologist, said: “These data provide essential context for a range of conservation programmes not only in the UK, but also more widely. Contributing these UK estimates to international assessments is important to help governments and conservation organisations prioritise scarce resources for those species most needing conservation action.”
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