More Welsh birds in the red
The latest assessment of all of Wales’ 213 regularly occurring birds – Population Status of Birds in Wales 2 – shows 45 species are now of the highest conservation concern and have been placed on the assessment’s red list.
Alarmingly, red-listed species now account for nearly a quarter of all of Welsh bird species. This is a much higher number compared with the last assessment in 2002, as 21 species have been added, seven of which have moved straight from the green list to the red.
Dr Ian Johnstone, RSPB Cymru’s Senior Conservation Scientist, said: “An increasing number of charismatic, widespread and familiar birds are joining the red list; this is deeply disturbing. When the RSPB began working in Wales nearly 100 years ago, few would have been concerned about the lapwing or cuckoo. Now these birds are some of our greatest conservation priorities.
“The continued poor status of some farmland birds, including the lapwing or peewit, as they are affectionately known, is also evident. This, and the fact that many new farmland species including kestrel, linnet and twite have now joined the red list, is why RSPB Cymru strongly supports Wales' new agri-environment scheme Glastir and Elin Jones, Welsh Assembly Minister for Rural Affairs’ commitment to ensuring it benefits wildlife.
“Some woodland birds have seen a dramatic decline with four species – the wood warbler, willow warbler, pied flycatcher and lesser redpoll – moving from the green to the red list. New research projects on some of these species are currently taking place to find out the reasons for these declines. However, one factor they have in common, excluding the lesser redpoll, is long distance migration. This suggests there may be problems on wintering grounds or more complex issues associated with climate change.”
The plight of some wading birds is also highlighted - birds such as the iconic curlew are on the red list because of declines in breeding numbers while others such as dunlin are red-listed because of declines at their estuarine wintering sites.
However, it is not all doom and gloom, as nine species have been downgraded from red to amber or amber to green, including the ringed plover and knot.
Some of Wales’ seabirds are also doing well, in contrast to other parts of the UK. The kittiwake has moved from amber to green and the Welsh population of guillemot is of international importance.
Dr Johnstone added: “Some birds, such as terns, red kites, hen harriers and peregrines, have started to turn a corner. However, the increases seen in the Welsh populations have been insufficient to allow them to move to lower lists as they are now concentrated in fewer sites or are of international importance due to declines elsewhere.”
Of the species assessed in Wales, 149 (70%) are on the same list as the wider UK. There are, however, some differences.
For example, nightjar, skylark, house sparrow and song thrush are on the UK red list, but on the Wales amber list and 19 species are red-listed in Wales but not on the red list in the UK. These include red grouse, curlew, golden plover and black-headed gull.
Dr David Noble, Principal Ecologist for Monitoring at the British Trust for Ornithology, said: “Thousands of volunteer surveyors ensure we know what is happening to our birds, and it is their dedication that underpins this report. Without their hard work, we would not have been able to determine the magnitude of the population declines that have caused 21 bird species in Wales to be red-listed for the first time.
“A gap all of us will notice is the lack of the cuckoo’s familiar song, their decline emblematic of downward trends in many long-distance migrants from Africa. That is why the BTO and our partners are working together in the UK and overseas, targeting research at understanding why migrant birds are in decline.
“After all, as this report shows, when we know what to do, and there are funds to do it, we can improve the fortunes of birds. Success stories fire-up our volunteers, knowing their work can make a real difference to our birds.”
Dr Sian Whitehead, Senior Ornithologist for the Countryside Council for Wales said: “The ongoing declines in populations of many of our well known bird species, as well as some that are rarer and particularly special to Wales, reflect the relentless challenge we face in conserving our wildlife and natural heritage. As both public and voluntary bodies enter a time of increasing austerity, we can still make the most of the resources we do have. Collectively, we can focus our efforts on attempting to halt and reverse these declines, and so preserve the rich and unique birdlife of Wales.”
Can you really imagine a Welsh hillside without the haunting song of Curlews? Can you envisage how empty an oak wood would be without the frantic song of Wood Warblers?
Derek Moore, Chairman of the Welsh Ornithological Society, said: “It can be so disheartening that after decades of intensive conservation effort so many of our once common bird species are continuing to decline. I have been bird watching for more than 50 years and if you had told me during that time that species such as starling, house sparrow and the once commoner gull species would be considered as threatened I would have laughed. Can you really imagine a Welsh hillside without the haunting song of Curlews? Can you envisage how empty an oak wood would be without the frantic song of Wood Warblers?
“The truth is now there for all to see. It is essential that the Welsh Assembly Government be as convinced as we all are that much more must be done to arrest these declines. The Glastir agri-environment scheme is to be welcomed to encourage the farming community to play their part. However, this will not be enough in isolation and agencies must increase their efforts to prevent pollution, habitat degradation and loss.
“Things are not all bad; red kites once holding on so precariously in Wales are now thriving throughout the UK thanks to Herculean efforts here and through reintroductions elsewhere. Song Thrushes thrive in Wales whilst struggling in the rest of the UK.
“Once again the efforts of Welsh birdwatchers everywhere have, through this report, provided the evidence so valuable in being able to address the status of birds in Wales. We hope it is not in vain.”
Richard Hearn, Head of Species Monitoring at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust said: “This report shows Wales is now supporting far fewer wintering waterbirds, such as pochard and grey plover, to the extent that they are red-listed. We know warmer winter weather further east and in Europe has helped some species shift their wintering range, but it is vital we do not assume this is true for every species and turn our backs on these birds.
“Working with partners abroad to monitor these migratory birds across their flyways is more crucial than ever to allow us to understand the causes of these declines and find out whether such range shifts will have long term effects.”
Population Status of Birds in Wales 2 is compiled by a number of organisations including RSPB Cymru, the British Trust for Ornithology, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Welsh Ornithological Society, Countryside Council for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government.
