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."