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Bird conservation statistics reveal north-south divide
May, 2009. Defra have published a review of bird trends across regions of England that shows that the UK government is struggling to meet its target of halting wildlife declines by 2010, says the RSPB.
Dr David Gibbons, the RSPB's chief scientist, said: "The results show that in some parts of the UK bird populations are decreasing rapidly, setting the government an almost impossible challenge to honour its commitment to halt wildlife decline within two years." Regional differencesIn 2001, the European Union heads of state agreed that wildlife declines should be halted by 2010. However, population trends between 1994 and 2006 for woodland birds, farmland birds and native birds for each Government office region, show that bird populations are decreasing rapidly across parts of the UK. The figures show that across England, the populations of farmland birds and woodland birds fell by seven per cent, but the corresponding figures for some regions exceeded these figures considerably. The all-native species index for England rose by six per cent. South East - Largest declineThe greatest declines of both farmland and woodland birds have occurred in South East England, where populations of both groups of birds have plummeted by a fifth since 1994. Declines of 10 per cent were recorded for both groups of birds in South West England. But, in the three regions of northern England, the populations of both groups of birds showed either modest or significant increases.
 Dr David Gibbons, added: "The steep declines of some of our most-familiar farmland and woodland birds is extremely depressing. The most rapidly declining species in South East England include familiar countryside birds like the grey partridge, turtle dove and corn bunting, whose populations all crashed in the region by more than half. However, there is more welcome news from northern England, where some formerly rapidly-declining birds, like the tree sparrow, have approximately doubled in number.
"Today's results paint a mixed picture for birds across England, but they do show that some species are still declining rapidly with no hint of recovery. Even some species that are recovering, like the tree sparrow, will have a long way to go before their populations reach the levels of the 1970s."
For each Government office region, Defra has produced three indices: farmland birds; woodland birds; and an ‘all native species' birds indicator. The key findings from today's report per region include:South East England 1994-2006: * The all native species bird index for the South East England Government office region decreased by nine per cent.
37 species (out of 80 comprising the regional all-species native bird index) decreased, while 28 species increased.
The buzzard has shown a seven-fold increase in its population.
* The farmland bird index for the South East England Government office region declined by 21 per cent. This was the worst recorded decline of any regional farmland bird index.
12 species (out of 19 comprising the regional farmland bird index) decreased, while four species increased.
Grey partridge, turtle dove and corn bunting decreased by more than 50 per cent, while whitethroat increased by more than 70 per cent.
* The woodland bird index for the South East England Government office region declined by 19 per cent. This was the worst recorded decline of any regional woodland bird index.
16 species (out of 29 comprising the regional woodland bird index) declined, while eight species increased.
Willow warbler, spotted flycatcher and willow tit decreased by more than 50 per cent, while great spotted woodpecker increased by more than 100 per cent. | South West England 1994-2006: * The all native species bird index for the South West England Government office region remained stable overall.
24 species (out of 79 comprising the regional all-species native bird index) decreased, while 36 species increased.
Raven, great spotted woodpecker, coot, wheatear, and shelduck have increased by more than 100 per cent, while cuckoo has decreased by more than 70 per cent.
* The farmland bird index for the South West England Government office region declined by 10 per cent.
Seven species (out of 16 comprising the regional farmland bird index) decreased, while seven species increased.
Lapwing, starling and grey partridge decreased by more than 50 per cent, while greenfinch has increased by more than 50 per cent.
* The woodland bird index for the South West Government office region declined by 10 per cent.
11 species (out of 31 comprising the regional woodland bird index) decreased, while 11 species increased.
Willow tit and wood warbler decreased by more than 70 per cent. |
East of England 1994-2006: * The all native species bird index for the East of England Government office region increased by seven per cent.
28 species (out of 77 comprising the regional all-species native bird index) decreased, while 37 species increased.
The buzzard population has increased 10 fold.
* The farmland bird index for the East of England Government office region declined by seven per cent.
12 species (out of 19 comprising the regional farmland bird index) declined, while seven species increased.
Turtle dove declined by 65 per cent, while jackdaw and rook have increased by 70 per cent.
* The woodland bird index for the East of England Government office region increased by three per cent.
10 species (out of 27 comprising the regional woodland bird index) declined, while 13 species increased.
Green woodpecker and great spotted woodpecker have increased by more than 100 per cent, while spotted flycatcher has decreased by 70 per cent. | Yorkshire and the Humber 1994-2006: * The all native species bird index for the Yorkshire and the Humber government office region increased by 17 per cent.
33 species (out of 84 comprising the regional all-species native bird index) decreased, while 45 species increased.
Buzzard and house martin rose threefold, while raven, coot and oystercatcher also increased by more than 150 per cent.
* The farmland bird index for the Yorkshire and the Humber government office region increased by three per cent.
Eight species (out of 19 comprising the regional farmland bird index) declined, while nine species increased.
The populations of rook and grey partridge declined by 50 per cent, while stock dove, jackdaw and greenfinch increased by more than 80 per cent.
* The woodland bird index for the Yorkshire and the Humber government office region increased by 19 per cent.
10 species (out of 30 comprising the regional woodland bird index) declined, while 18 species increased.
Blackcap, great tit, long-tailed tit, nuthatch and redstart all increased by more than 100 per cent, while the willow tit declined by 70 per cent. |
West Midlands 1994-2006: * The all native species bird index for the West Midlands government office region decreased by three per cent.
33 species (out of 81 comprising the regional all-species native bird index) decreased, while 35 species increased.
Kingfishers have increased three-fold, while buzzard, nuthatch, coot and great spotted woodpecker have increased by more than 100 per cent.
* The farmland bird index for the West Midlands government office region declined by 17 per cent.
12 species (out of 19 comprising the regional farmland bird index) declined, while six species increased.
Greenfinch increased by more than 50 per cent, while corn bunting, yellow wagtail and turtle dove declined by more than 50 per cent
*The woodland bird index for the West Midlands government office region declined by two per cent.
10 species (out of 32 comprising the regional woodland bird index) declined, while 16 species increased.
Great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch and goldcrest increased by more than 100 per cent, while tawny owl, wood warbler and willow tit declined by 70 per cent. | East Midlands 1994-2006: * The all native species bird index for the East Midlands government office region increased by nine per cent.
26 species (out of 82 comprising the regional all-species native bird index) decreased, while 39 species increased. Buzzard witnessed a two-fold increase, while kingfishers increased nine-fold.
* The farmland bird index for the East Midlands government office region decreased by one per cent.
Seven species (out of 19 comprising the regional farmland bird index) declined, while eight species increased.
Greenfinch and lapwing have risen by 50 per cent or more, while yellow wagtail and linnet decreased by more than 50 per cent.
* The woodland bird index for the East Midlands government office region increased by seven per cent.
10 species (out of 30 comprising the regional woodland bird index) declined, while 16 species increased.
Green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, great tit and chiffchaff increased by more than 90 per cent, while spotted flycatcher and willow tit decreased by more than 70 per cent. |
North East England 1994-2006: * The all native species bird index for the North East government office region increased by 14 per cent.
29 species (out of 87 comprising the regional all-species native bird index) declined, while 47 species increased.
* The farmland bird index for the North East government office region increased by seven per cent, with goldfinch and tree sparrow populations more than doubling in the region.
Five species (out of 18 comprising the regional farmland bird index) declined, while 10 species increased.
* The woodland birds index for the North East government office region increased by nine per cent, with great spotted woodpecker and nuthatch populations more than doubling in the region.
11 species (out of 32 comprising the regional woodland bird index) declined, while 16 species increased. London region 1994-2006: * The all native species index for London increased by six per cent.
* The farmland bird index for London increased by eight per cent.
* The woodland bird index for London increased by nine per cent.
| North West England 1994-2006: * The all native species bird index for the North West government office region increased by 23 per cent.
21 species (out of 85 comprising the regional all-species native bird index) decreased, while 47 species increased.
Coot, goldcrest, blackcap, buzzard, chiffchaff and great spotted woodpecker have all increased by more than 100 per cent. Bullfinch fell by 59 per cent.
* The farmland bird index for the North West government office region increased by eight per cent, with greenfinch, goldfinch and stock dove populations more than doubling in the region. This was the highest recorded increase of any regional farmland bird index.
Five species (out of 18 comprising the regional farmland bird index) declined, while eight species increased.
* The woodland bird index for the North West government office region increased by 32 per cent, with sparrowhawks and green woodpeckers recording large increases in the region. This increase was the highest recorded for any woodland bird index.
Six species (out of 29 comprising the regional woodland bird index) declined, while 19 species increased. |
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