• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

End of the Cockney Sparrow? Garden Bird is Among Species Most at Risk

Posted on: Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 18:20 CDT

By MARK PRIGG

THEY were once a common sight in gardens across the capital, but the house sparrow also known as the cockney "sparrer" because of the vast profusions of them in London's parks and squares in the 19th century was today named as one of the UK's most endangered species.

The Government's Biodiversity Action Plan has identified 1,149 species and 65 habitats in the UK as being in need of conservation and greater protection.

This is up from the original Biodiversity Action Plan 10 years ago which identified 577 species and 49 habitats as being at risk.

Dozens of once-common London birds such as the herring gull, house sparrow and starling are listed in the new plan and grass snakes and garden tiger moths are listed for the first time.

"The fact that the bird list now includes more than a fifth of all of the UK's regularly occurring birds is a cause of alarm, especially as it now includes the cockney 'sparrer' and starlings, once so numerous the sheer weight of them perched on Big Ben's hands stopped the clock in its tracks," said Paul Forecast, the RSPB's London manager.

However, the list reveals that a number of species have benefited from being featured on the original list 10 years ago. The numbers of ladybird spiders and lady's slipper orchids are at a 50-year high.

"Over the last 12 years, the BAP system has helped everyone focus attention on priority species. To its credit, we have seen dramatic increases in key species, like the bittern, stone-curlew, corncrake, and nightjar," said Mr Forecast.

The list was compiled after more than two years of research by more than 500 wildlife experts and a large number of volunteers.

However, campaigners today warned that fast action was needed to safeguard many of the species.

"We will have to tackle some general environmental problems. We will have to act fast if we are to meet obligations of halting the loss of biodiversity." Biodiversity minister Joan Ruddock said the updated action plan would help shape the Government's conservation policy.

"Conserving biodiversity is essential if we are to pass on a healthy environment to the next generation," Ms Ruddock said. "The new list will help us target our resources and efforts where they are needed." Nigel Bourne, chairman of the Wildlife and Countryside Link's biodiversity working group, welcomed the updated list and called it a "major boost".

"The conservation charities that make up Link look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the Government," Dr Bourne said. "Together we can turn the list into targeted action to deliver the conservation of our very special habitats and species." A separate study published today also highlighted the decline in the UK's hedgehog population.

The study by the University of London for the People's Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society listed tidier gardens and urbanisation as factors causing the fall in the number of the small mammals.

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Page 12

In danger

Lapwing

Herring gull

Cuckoo

Starling

House sparrow

Thriving

Bittern

Song thrush

Linnet

Bullfinch

Reed bunting

Source: UK Biodiversity Action Plan

Source: Evening Standard; London (UK)

More News in this Category