The latest assessment of the status of all the UK’s 245 regularly-occurring bird species – Birds of Conservation Concern 5 – shows that 70 species are now of ‘highest conservation concern’ and have been placed on the assessment’s Red List. The newly revised Red List now includes familiar species, such as the Swift, House Martin and Greenfinch that have been added for the first time.
Birds of Conservation Concern 5 is a report compiled by a coalition of the UK’s leading bird conservation and monitoring organisations reviewing the status of all regularly occurring birds in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Each species was assessed against a set of objective criteria and placed on either the Green, Amber or Red List – indicating an increasing level of conservation concern.
The report adds to a wealth of evidence that many of our bird populations are in trouble. Amongst the new additions to the Red List are the Swift, House Martin and Greenfinch. The report placed 70 species on the Red List, 103 on the Amber list and 72 on the Green list. Worryingly, the Red List now accounts for more than one-quarter (29%) of the UK species, more than ever before, and almost double the figure (36 species) noted in the first review in 1996. Most of the species were placed on the Red List because of their severe declines, having halved in numbers or range in the UK in recent decades. Others remain well below historical levels or are considered under threat of global extinction.
Swift and House Martin have both moved from the Amber to the Red List owing to an alarming decrease in their population size (58% since 1995 and 57% since 1969 respectively). These join other well-known birds, such as the Cuckoo and Nightingale, already on the Red List, which migrate between the UK and sub-Saharan Africa each year. Work to address their declines must focus on both their breeding grounds here and throughout the rest of their migratory journey, which requires international cooperation and support.
A martin bird gazing out – image courtesy of the RSPB
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A martin bird gazing out – image courtesy of the RSPB
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The BTO’s CEO, Prof Juliet Vickery told us……..
“It is both sad and shocking to think that the House Martin, a bird that often, literally, makes its home under our roof, has become Red-listed. As a long-distance migrant to Africa, we know very little of its life outside of the UK, but possible causes include a lack of food, as a result of insect declines, and fewer nest sites, due to housing refurbishment and the move to plastic soffits. Putting up artificial House Martin nest cups to provide safer nesting sites may not be the whole answer but it’s a simple positive step many of us can take.”
The familiar garden bird, the Greenfinch has moved directly from the Green to the Red List after a population crash (62% since 1993) caused by a severe outbreak of the disease trichomonosis. This infection is spread through contaminated food and drinking water, or by birds feeding one another with regurgitated food during the breeding season. Garden owners can help slow transmission rates by temporarily stopping the provision of food if ill birds are seen and making sure that garden bird feeders are cleaned regularly.
The report also raises concerns over the status of wintering waterbird populations, with species such as Bewick’s Swan joining the Red list. Pressures include illegal hunting abroad, the ingestion of lead ammunition, and the impacts of climate change. In addition, many of these wintering waterbird populations have been affected by ‘short-stopping’, whereby they have shifted their wintering grounds north-eastwards in response to milder winter temperatures.
Bewick’s swans in flight – image courtesy of RSPB
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Bewick’s swans in flight – image courtesy of RSPB
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There is concern that the European wetlands they are now spending more of their time in may be drained or exploited in other ways and some are without protection altogether. Ensuring these areas are designated, protected and managed appropriately will become even more critical in safeguarding the ongoing survival of many of our migrating waterbirds. The 2021 assessment does however contain some good news and demonstrates that targeted conservation action can make a real difference.
The UK’s largest bird of prey, the White-tailed Eagle, moves from the Red to the Amber list as a result of decades of conservation work including reintroductions and increased protection for this spectacular species. The population, however, remains low at just 123 pairs nationally. White-tailed eagles became extinct in the UK as a result of extensive habitat change combined, particularly in the 19th century, with persecution. Before their re-introduction, the birds last bred in England and Wales in the 1830s, in Ireland in 1898 and in Scotland in 1916.
A white-tailed sea eagle – Isle of Mull, Scotland – image courtesy of the RSPB
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A white-tailed sea eagle – Isle of Mull, Scotland – image courtesy of the RSPB
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The RSPB’s CEO, Beccy Speight told us……
“This is more evidence that the UK’s wildlife is in freefall and not enough is being done to reverse declines. With almost double the number of birds on the Red List since the first review in 1996, we are seeing once common species such as Swift and Greenfinch now becoming rare. As with our climate, this really is the last chance saloon to halt and reverse the destruction of nature. We often know what action we need to take to change the situation, but we need to do much more, rapidly and at scale. The coming decade is crucial to turning things around.”
To find out more about the incredible work carried out by the RSPB in Wales, and the UK, just head to their site HERE.
And the British Trust for Ornithology can be found HERE.
