Wild Birds Up By 10 Per Cent but Some Species Still Fare Badly

By FORDYCE MAXWELL ENVIRONMENT EDITOR

TOTAL wild bird numbers in the UK have increased by almost ten per cent in the past decade.

Milder winters and more environmentally friendly farming methods might have contributed to the growing populations, according to the government’s annual wild bird survey which was published yesterday.

But behind the encouraging overall increase, reported by thousands of volunteer birdwatchers across the UK, there are mixed fortunes for birds in different habitats over different timespans.

Relatively scarce breeding birds, mainly in the south of England, such as the Dartford warbler and woodlark, show signs of revival, while less attractive, more numerous species like the wood pigeon and jackdaw seem to benefit most from more environmentally friendly farming.

Even an overall habitat figure can hide widely different fortunes for species. Some upland and wetland species, such as the buzzard and little ringed plover, have increased steadily, but steep declines are reported for curlews and common sandpipers.

Kingfisher and peregrine falcons have recovered from previously low numbers, but sparrowhawk spottings plummeted by 17 per cent between 2003 and 2004.

Woodland birds are down about 15 per cent on 1970 with most of that decline in the late 1980s. Numbers have stabilised, with great spotted and green woodpeckers and chiffchaff doing well.

But the lesser redpoll, lesser spotted woodpecker and spotted flycatcher have fared badly. Farmland bird numbers almost halved between 1977 and 1993, with intensive grain growing – which is heavily reliant on chemical sprays – getting most of the blame.