We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Farmland bird numbers show signs of recovery
UK FARMLAND bird populations are showing signs of recovery, the latest official figures show.
The breeding Farmland Bird Index (FBI) for the UK, based on a survey of 19 species, showed a one per cent increase between 2007 and 2008.
This followed a decline between 2005 and 2007 that saw the index dip to its lowest ever level. The FBI still stands at 47 per cent below its 1970 level, however.
The overall population of farmland bird numbers in England increased by four per cent between 2007 and 2008.
Defra Minister Huw Irranca-Davies described this as ‘really encouraging’ against the backdrop of the downward trend in farmland bird numbers since 1970.
He expressed hope that the industry-led Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE) in England, due to be launched on Thursday (November 5), and changes made to the Environmental Stewardship schemes, will ensure the population growth ‘continues in the years to come’.
“We must keep doing all the things that have contributed to these modest increases. Conservation organisations, land managers, farmers and individuals who care about birds all need to do their bit to ensure we encourage birds to flourish so that we see a repeat of these increases next year,” he said.
However, the RSPB claimed the figures still pointed to declining farmland bird populations in England.
It acknowledged that the ‘raw year on year data does show a small increase in bird numbers’. But it noted the FBI indicator for England declined by 2 per cent in 2008, the sixth year running it has fallen, and was now at its lowest ever level, at 52 per cent lower than in 1970.
Twelve of the 19 species on the England FBI list declined between 2007 and 2008 and of those 10 have been in continual decline for the past four years, RSPB said.
Mark Avery, RSPB director of conservation said the figures showed how ‘vitally important’ it is that the CFE, the voluntary initiative to replace the environmental benefits of set-aside, succeeds.
“If these birds disappear then we will have lost a unique and defining feature of the English countryside,” he said.
The wild bird population figures show that UK wild bird numbers overall have risen slightly, with small increases between 2007 and 2008 in numbers of breeding woodland birds, water and wetland birds, as well as farmland birds.
Farmland Bird Index summary
The 19 bird species on the Farmland Bird Index are: kestrel, grey partridge, lapwing, stock dove, woodpigeon, turtle dove, skylark, yellow wagtail, whitethroat, jackdaw, starling, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet, yellow hammer, reed bunting, corn bunting, rook and tree sparrow.
According to RSPB, the figures show:
- Greenfinch numbers have declined sharply since 2005 after a period of increase, possibly due to the impact of the disease trichomoniasis.
- Corn bunting numbers increased slightly between 2007 and 2008 after a long period of decline
- Tree sparrow numbers increased between 2006 and 2008 after declines between 2004 and 2006.
- Kestrel numbers continued to increase adding to their upward trend since 1999.
- All three long-distance migrants - turtle dove, yellow wagtail and whitethroat – declined.
- Winter seed-eaters showed mixed fortunes.