Native songbirds under threat
A DECLINE in bird numbers in the Westcountry has been described as "disastrous" by experts, who fear the simple pleasure of hearing a nightingale sing could become a thing of the past.
According to official figures released by the Government, numbers of some once-common species of farm and woodland birds have plummeted by 50 per cent. Peter Exley, spokesman for the RSPB in the South West, said the situation was dire and called for urgent action.
"This is an ongoing, disastrous decline in some species in the South West which are becoming increasingly rare.
"This is a huge loss and a tragedy for these species who are not only beautiful in their appearance but also in their songs.
"Nightingales for example are becoming increasingly rare.
"To not hear a Nightingale sing would be a great loss. We lose it at our peril."
The Department for Food and Rural Affairs survey looks at the breeding numbers of farmland, woodland and all native bird species over a 13-year period up to 2007.
It appears to suggest a north-south divide with birds thriving in areas like the Humber and Yorkshire, but numbers suffering in the South West.
Overall in the region, the populations in all three categories have reduced, with farmland birds down by a tenth and woodland birds down by 7 per cent.
Some species, such as willow tit, nightingale and wood warbler, have seen a decline of more than 50 per cent. There have been some winners, with populations of buzzards increasing by a staggering 600 per cent.
"The population of buzzards seems to have exploded," said Mr Exley.
It is not possible to directly compare data from the previous survey before 1994 as it was gathered in a different way.
However, Mr Exley said the evidence still pointed towards an inexorable long-term decline in traditional British birds.
Experts believe there are two main culprits – intensive land use and global warming. "The way that land is managed is very intensive, such as the cropping regimes how we treat crops with pesticides and fertilisers," said Mr Exley.
"The other worrying thing we see is that trends suggest climate change is having an impact on these species."
Mr Exley said it was not too late for action and that preserving bird species in the South West was a real quality of life issue. In purely economic terms, much of the region's tourism relied on its unique environment, he added. His words were echoed by Wildlife Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who called for renewed action to turn around the decline in certain species of birds.
"A healthy environment is fundamental to our economy, as well as being a vital part of what living in Britain means to us.
"Some species are doing well. However others are continuing to decline, particularly those species that breed solely or mainly on farmland. We must continue the work we are doing with conservation bodies, land managers and farmers, and volunteers to help to stop and reverse the decline in wild and farmland bird numbers, and take further action."
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by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Sunday, May 17 2009, 9:04PM
“:| It depends how relaxed I'm feeling at the time Lemming. . Also on a serious note. . I was over 40 when I saw my first badger in daylight. . It was running across a field. . Word is that there are people actually breeding them and releasing them into the wild now. . I found one hiding behind some pallets in the barn the other day and a neighbouring farmer of mine said he approached one and it growled at him. . The last thing we need is badgers without a natural fear of humans. . It always used to be said the only safe way to approach a badger was with a pitch fork.”
by Lemming, Plymouth
Sunday, May 17 2009, 6:50PM
“Charles, if we're being pedantic, raptors (you may know them as 'raptures') may 'take off' while badgers rarely do.
But on a serious note, I have noticed, recently larger numbers of stoats in my area. It is a pleasure to watch them.”
by FWK, Crediton
Sunday, May 17 2009, 1:23PM
“As you know, Charles, I try to rely on pukkah published information in scientific journals and proper research reports. I have posted some requests for info from the RSPB and BTO websites and also emailed a contact on the RSPB research staff asking if he can point me towards a good reference or two. I haven't been able to come up with anything definitive from a Google search, other than the reference to bird remains in badger faeces that I quoted before, which came from a journal review paper - which also said that although badgers didn't seem to be strongly implicated in affecting bird populations, this needed to be confirmed by further research.
I must contradict your statement that the information quoted by organizations like the RSPB and the BTO "is not complete or comprehensive. . It is very limited and always subjective." Both these organizations not only do a lot of scientific research themselves but the RSPB in particular have built up a very powerful scientific database and library facility and their scientists are very well-informed. I visited the RSPB headquarters recently and it is very impressive, reflecting the large amount of money they receive from member subscriptions and donations. As with any scientific subject, you have to differentiate between what you read in the popular press and what is published in scientific journals and research reports.
Anyway, I think we have taken up enough space here so I'll leave it for now. If I find out anything useful I may pass it on via your website, assuming there is a facility for that.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Sunday, May 17 2009, 12:10PM
“:| And certainly neither am I FW, but I see far more wildlife now regularly. . Stoats taking rabbits, weasels, and many game birds as well as all the deer. . I take issue with your statement, . "they will be able to tell you the known facts about badger predation of ground nesting birds." . . I just don't accept that they are "Known Facts". . They just continually defend the approach they take. . Their data is not complete or comprehensive. . It is very limited and always subjective.
I will just be keeping a watching brief because far too many facts and statements keep referring back to the early nineties when both badger and raptor numbers were starting to really take off.”
by FWK, Crediton
Sunday, May 17 2009, 10:49AM
“Charles - as I said, I am not an expert on birds. You may have something and I suggest you write to the RSPB and BTO (British Trust for Ornithology). I'm sure that if you adopt a neutral, enquiring tone they will be able to tell you the known facts about badger predation of ground nesting birds. The RSPB website has a section for asking questions, but I would say it would be worth asking the BTO as well. Remember that these organisations primary interest is in birds and they are concerned with anything that might be affecting bird populations.
I would dispute your statement that there is more wildlife about than ever before. Some species have increased - notably raptors and badgers, and rabbits are coming back after Myxy, but looking at long term trends there are more decliners than increasers. Apart from some raptors, the only bird species that are really doing well and have been increasing subsrtantually are gulls - probably due to increasing landfill! Many insect species are on the decline, not just the obvious things like butterflies, bumble bees and honey bees, but many of the less conspicuous creatures that are all part of a healthy ecosystem and characteristic of less intensively managed farmland.
As I have said, I am sympathetic towards farmers, not just because of my background, and of course we have to produce food more efficiently as time passes. But there is point in just ignoring the recorded trends in wildlife because it is more comfortable to do so.
If there you see more wildlife about than ever before in your area that's great, but unfortunately it doesn't represent what's happening nationally - unless your perceptiion is influenced by the few species we have mentioned (mainly raptors, badgers and seagulls!) and possibly deer and urban foxes.”