State of the UK Birds 2020

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

State of the UK Birds 2020 THE STATE OF THE UK’S BIRDS 2020 THE STATE OF THE UK’S BIRDS 2020 1 ● high concern | ● moderate concern | ● least concern | ● non-native or occasional visitors Wigeons by Oliver Smart (rspb-images.com) Smart Oliver by Wigeons Contents Headlines .....................................................................................................................................................................4 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................7 Features Wild bird indicators ................................................................................................................................................ 8 UK breeding bird abundance ...........................................................................................................................10 Survey updates ......................................................................................................................................................14 New European breeding bird atlas ...............................................................................................................18 Species’ trends Common and widespread birds ....................................................................................................................22 Scarce and rare breeding birds .....................................................................................................................27 Seabirds ....................................................................................................................................................................32 Wintering waterbirds ..........................................................................................................................................36 Countries Wales .........................................................................................................................................................................40 Scotland ....................................................................................................................................................................52 Northern Ireland ................................................................................................................................................... 58 England .....................................................................................................................................................................64 UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies ..............................................................................70 About this report Current and planned surveys .........................................................................................................................76 Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................................78 Who we are .............................................................................................................................................................79 This report should be referenced as: Throughout this report, all bird species are shown in bold and Burns F, Eaton MA, Balmer DE, colour-coded according to their conservation status, as published in Banks A, Caldow R, Donelan JL, Birds of Conservation Concern 4 (BoCC4). Douse A, Duigan C, Foster S, Frost T, Grice PV, Hall C, Hanmer HJ, Harris SJ, Johnstone I, Lindley P, McCulloch N, Red – 67 species identified as being of the greatest Noble DG, Risely K, Robinson RA, conservation concern. Wotton S (2020) The state of the UK’s birds 2020. The RSPB, BTO, WWT, Amber – 96 species of moderate concern. DAERA, JNCC, NatureScot, NE and NRW, Sandy, Bedfordshire. Green – 81 species of least concern. Not assessed – Non-native species and those that only occur as occasional visitors to the UK. ● high concern | ● moderate concern | ● least concern | ● non-native or occasional visitors 2 THE STATE OF THE UK’S BIRDS 2020 THE STATE OF THE UK’S BIRDS 2020 3 ● high concern | ● moderate concern | ● least concern | ● non-native or occasional visitors Buzzard, house sparrow, fulmar and red-legged partridge by Shutterstock, cuckoo Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) • Volunteers are vital for conservation Buzzards Volunteers play an essential role in bird monitoring in the UK, by donating their time and expertise. The data they collect are vital for conservation, advocacy and are increasing 19 policy development. Thank you to all those involved. in all UK 32% • 19 million pairs of breeding birds lost since late 1960s countries Cuckoos are of albatross and except Wales million New figures from the Avian Population Estimates Panel (APEP) suggest that there declining in petrel species in fewer pairs of are 83 million pairs of native breeding birds in the UK. This is 19 million pairs fewer than when widespread monitoring began in the late 1960s. This figure is similar to England, but the UKOTs and breeding birds in that presented in The state of the UK’s birds 2012, based on the previous APEP increasing in CDs are at risk of the UK compared report, suggesting that, in terms of total breeding bird numbers, the period of relative Scotland global extinction to the late 1960s stability that began in the 1990s is continuing. • Albatrosses and petrels face global extinction Despite significant conservation successes, around a third of all albatross and petrel species found in the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) and Crown Dependencies (CDs) are at risk of global extinction due to fisheries bycatch and predation by introduced mammalian predators such as mice. • Species’ trends vary across the UK This year, we present country sections in this report for the first time. These highlight variation in species’ trends across the UK. For example, cuckoos are increasing in Scotland but declining in England, very likely due to the loss of food resources in more intensively managed lowland environments. House sparrows 92% are increasing strongly in Wales but have declined in England, whereas the Welsh increase in buzzard population hasn’t seen the increases found in other countries. house sparrows • 57 million birds released for shooting in Wales from The size of the non-native bird population increases over 10-fold in the 1995 to 2018 late summer, when an estimated 57 million captive-reared pheasants and red-legged partridges are released for shooting. Headlines● high concern | ● moderate concern | ● least concern | ● non-native or occasional visitors 4 THE STATE OF THE UK’S BIRDS 2020 THE STATE OF THE UK’S BIRDS 2020 5 ● high concern | ● moderate concern | ● least concern | ● non-native or occasional visitors RSPB (rspb-images.com) Introduction The state of the UK’s birds (SUKB) report is a comprehensive reference for bird trends in the UK, providing up-to-date results from annual, periodic and one-off avian surveys. Since 1999, these reports have The critical role provided an overview of the status of bird populations in the UK and its Overseas of volunteers Territories and Crown Dependencies. We In each edition of SUKB we highlight present trends for as many of the UK’s the vital role expert volunteers play regularly occurring species as possible. in bird monitoring and it is a great opportunity to thank everyone for their In SUKB 2020, our first report since valued contributions. This year, many 2017, we combine the latest population monitoring schemes have been affected estimates (published in 2020 by the by the global Covid-19 pandemic, and Avian Population Estimates Panel) with we want to say thank you to volunteers trend information, in order to examine If you’re both for the fieldwork that was possible how bird numbers have changed over and for their patience and understanding interested in time. We present results combined for when field visits could not be made. all native breeding species, as well as getting involved If you are interested in getting involved individual species. in monitoring, we highlight current in monitoring, opportunities on pages 76–77. 2020 was a critical year for biodiversity see page 76 conservation, during which countries around the world assessed their The SUKB partnership progress towards the current set of conservation goals, the Aichi targets, SUKB 2020 is produced collaboratively David Woodfall (rspb-images.com) and began developing new plans for the by three NGOs, together with the UK’s future. In the 2020 edition of SUKB we statutory conservation bodies: present 10-year trends for all species • Royal Society for the Protection of for which they are available, allowing Birds (RSPB) us to examine how the UK’s birds have • British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) fared during the period the UK has been • Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust attempting to meet the Aichi targets. (WWT) • Department of Given the devolved nature of Agriculture, conservation in the UK, for the first time Environment and Rural in SUKB we present short sections Affairs, Northern Ireland about each of the four UK countries. (DAERA) These sections give space to explore • Joint Nature the different patterns of species’ change Conservation Committee in each country and to show the variety (JNCC) of ways that species’ monitoring data • Natural England (NE) are being used to influence policy and • Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Volunteers play conservation action. • NatureScot a crucial role in monitoring the UK’s
Recommended publications
  • 345 Fieldfare Put Your Logo Here
    Javier Blasco-Zumeta & Gerd-Michael Heinze Sponsor is needed. Write your name here Put your logo here 345 Fieldfare Fieldfare. Adult. Male (09-I). Song Thrush FIELDFARE (Turdus pilaris ) IDENTIFICATION 25-26 cm. Grey head; red-brown back; grey rump and dark tail; pale underparts; pale flanks spotted black; white underwing coverts; yellow bill with ochre tip. Redwing Fieldfare. Pattern of head, underwing co- verts and flank. SIMILAR SPECIES Song Thrush has orange underwing coverts; Redwing has reddish underwing coverts; Mistle Thrush has white underwing coverts, but lacks pale supercilium and its rump isn’t grey. Mistle Thrush http://blascozumeta.com Write your website here Page 1 Javier Blasco-Zumeta & Gerd-Michael Heinze Sponsor is needed. Write your name here Put your logo here 345 Fieldfare SEXING Male with dark or black tail feathers; red- dish feathers on back with blackish center; most have a broad mark on crown feathers. Female with dark brown tail feathers but not black; dull reddish feathers on back with dark centre (but not blackish); most have a thin mark on crown feathers. CAUTION: some birds of both sexes have similar pattern on crown feathers. Fieldfare. Sexing. Pattern of tail: left male; right fe- male. Fieldfare. Sexing. Pat- AGEING tern of Since this species doesn’t breed in Aragon, only crown feat- 2 age groups can be recognized: hers: top 1st year autumn/2nd year spring with moult male; bot- limit within moulted chestnut inner greater co- tom female. verts and retained juvenile outer greater coverts, shorter and duller with traces of white tips; pointed tail feathers.
    [Show full text]
  • A Summary of Climate Change Risks for North East England
    A Summary of Climate Change Risks for North East England To coincide with the publication of the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) 2012 Climate UK/ North East 1 Introduction North East England comprises Northumberland, Agriculture and forestry make up a significant amount of Tyne and Wear, County Durham and the Tees Valley. land use, and makes a significant contribution to tourism It stretches to the upland areas of the Pennines and and other related industries. Cheviot Hills, which extending to the west and north, In contrast, Tyne and Wear and Tees Valley are major and the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales, which urban conurbations heavily dominated by commercial span the south. The eastern lowland strip is edged by and industrial centres. the North Sea, while the north of the region borders Housing is characterised by a high proportion of terraced Scotland. and semi-detached properties, much dating from the Significant rivers are the Tweed, Coquet, Wansbeck, 1850s to 1920s. Tyne, Derwent, Wear, and Tees. There are around 130,000 private sector enterprises – One of the smallest regions in the country, it covers the majority being small or medium in size. This sector approximately 8700 km2, and has a population of just contributes nearly two thirds of total employment and over 2.5 million. Characterised by contrasting landscapes, around half of regional turnover*. North East England is home to many historic buildings Larger firms in the basic metals, chemicals and and the highest number of castles in England, as well manufactured fuels industries, are responsible for a as a range of nationally and internationally important significant proportion of regional employment, and are habitats and species.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Report
    Overseas Countries and Territories: Environmental Profiles FINAL REPORT PART 2 – DETAILED REPORT SECTION E – SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION Consortium January 201 5 EuropeAid/127054/C/SER/multi Request n° 2013/325768 DISCLAIMER This report has been prepared with the financial assistance of the European Commission. The views expressed herein are those of the consultants and therefore in no way reflect the official opinion of the European Commission Authors of the Report Contractor’s name and address José de Bettencourt Safège Consortium Helena Imminga-Berends Gulledelle 92 B-1200 Brussels - BELGIUM Project manager Camille Vassart on behalf of Prospect C&S Please consider the environment before printing this document Page 2 / 115 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ACAP Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels ACOR Association Française pour les Récifs Coralliens ACP Africa Caribbean and the Pacific ACS Association of Caribbean States AEPS Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy AFD French Development Agency AMAP Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme AMOC Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation AOSIS Alliance of Small Island States APEC Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation BAS British Antarctic Survey BEST EU Voluntary Scheme for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories of European Overseas BRGM Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières CAFF Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna CANARI Caribbean Natural Resources Institute CARICOM Caribbean Community CARIFORUM Caribbean Forum CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CCAMLR
    [Show full text]
  • CATAIR Appendix
    CBP and Trade Automated Interface Requirements Appendix: PGA April 24, 2020 Pub # 0875-0419 Contents Table of Changes ............................................................................................................................................4 PG01 – Agency Program Codes .................................................................................................................... 18 PG01 – Government Agency Processing Codes ............................................................................................. 22 PG01 – Electronic Image Submitted Codes.................................................................................................... 26 PG01 – Globally Unique Product Identification Code Qualifiers .................................................................... 26 PG01 – Correction Indicators* ...................................................................................................................... 26 PG02 – Product Code Qualifiers.................................................................................................................... 28 PG04 – Units of Measure .............................................................................................................................. 30 PG05 – Scie nt if ic Spec ies Code .................................................................................................................... 31 PG05 – FWS Wildlife Description Codes .....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • A Literature Review of Urban Effects on Lowland Heaths and Their Wildlife
    Report Number 623 A literature review of urban effects on lowland heaths and their wildlife English Nature Research Reports working today for nature tomorrow English Nature Research Reports Number 623 A literature review of urban effects on lowland heaths and their wildlife J C Underhill-Day RSPB, Syldata Arne, Wareham Dorset BH20 5BJ Telephone: 01929 550969 email: [email protected] You may reproduce as many additional copies of this report as you like, provided such copies stipulate that copyright remains with English Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough PE1 1UA ISSN 0967-876X © Copyright English Nature 2005 Executive summary Introduction Heather clad lowland heath developed on light, freely draining, acid soils following prehistoric woodland clearance, and down the centuries, has been kept open by grazing, burning and cutting. As the economic value of these uses declined, considerable areas of heath were lost to agriculture, forestry, housing, roads, mineral working and other uses, and today, much of what is left is adjacent to built up areas, especially in Dorset. These lowland heathland fragments can be found across much of southern England on suitable soils. Much of the research on heathlands over the last twenty years has concentrated on the Dorset heaths, which are now almost all SSSIs and mostly within the Dorset Heathland SPA. While this report reflects the bias in the literature towards work in Dorset, the results have wide applicability to urban heathlands that are accessed by the surrounding urban populations for amenity and recreation whether in Dorset or elsewhere. This urban public access places considerable pressures on the heaths, for example through disturbance, wild fires, trampling, predation by domestic pets, pollution and enrichment.
    [Show full text]
  • Foraging Methods of the Song Thrush.-A Recent Review by Clark (Wilson Bull
    September 1976 . GENERAL NOTES 497 the weight loss is impressive, particularly since these caged birds had access to a super- abundant food supply. Ricklefs (1968) analyzed the relationship between maximum nestling weight and average adult weight for individual species. For this he constructed a ratio (R) of the asymptote from the growth curve to the average adult weight. Ratios greater than 1.10 were most common in aerial feeders, while ratios less than 0.90 were most common for ground feeders. Also, species with high R values tended to have long nestling periods. The ratio for Monk Parakeets was 1.28. This was somewhat higher than the intermediate levels that might be expected of an arboreal and ground feeder such as this species. However, the high R value of Monk Parakeets is in accord with what would be expected in species with similarly long nestling periods. Since the energy requirements for nestlings is the sum of maintenance energy and energy for growth, a low growth rate would tend to decrease the rate of energy demand for a nestling. If the number of surviving offspring is limited by the rate at which the parents can deliver energy to the young, then changes in the factors tending to lower the rate of energy demand of the nestlings could increase the number of potential offspring reared by the parents. One way to effect such a change is to lower the growth rate. However a low growth rate also increases the chances for predation and other nest losses by increasing the time in the nest.
    [Show full text]
  • Disaggregation of Bird Families Listed on Cms Appendix Ii
    Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals 2nd Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council (ScC-SC2) Bonn, Germany, 10 – 14 July 2017 UNEP/CMS/ScC-SC2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II (Prepared by the Appointed Councillors for Birds) Summary: The first meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council identified the adoption of a new standard reference for avian taxonomy as an opportunity to disaggregate the higher-level taxa listed on Appendix II and to identify those that are considered to be migratory species and that have an unfavourable conservation status. The current paper presents an initial analysis of the higher-level disaggregation using the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World Volumes 1 and 2 taxonomy, and identifies the challenges in completing the analysis to identify all of the migratory species and the corresponding Range States. The document has been prepared by the COP Appointed Scientific Councilors for Birds. This is a supplementary paper to COP document UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.25.3 on Taxonomy and Nomenclature UNEP/CMS/ScC-Sc2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II 1. Through Resolution 11.19, the Conference of Parties adopted as the standard reference for bird taxonomy and nomenclature for Non-Passerine species the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Non-Passerines, by Josep del Hoyo and Nigel J. Collar (2014); 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Iucn Summary Gough Island (United Kingdom) 2
    WORLD HERITAGE NOMINATION - IUCN SUMMARY GOUGH ISLAND (UNITED KINGDOM) Summary prepared by IUCN/WCMC (March 1995) based on the original nomination supplied by the Government of the United Kingdom. This original and all documents in support of this nomination will be available for consultation at the meetings of the Bureau and the Committee. 1. LOCATION Located southeast of Tristan da Cunha Island in the south Atlantic Ocean, midway between Africa and South America. 2. JURIDICAL DATA The island and surrounding territorial waters were designated a wildlife area in 1976 under the Tristan da Cunha Conservation Ordinance. 3. IDENTIFICATION The island of Gough (6500ha) represents the eroded core of a Late Tertiary volcano. The east side of the island is dissected by a series of deep steep-sided valleys, which are separated by narrow serrated ridges. Along the west side of the island, rounded slopes extend from the central plateau to the western sea cliffs. Many offshore stacks and rocks are present, mostly within 100m of the main island. Vegetation comprises tussock grass around the coast and wet heath with moss and feldmark, and bog and swamp communities at higher elevations. Knowledge of the flora is incomplete but consists of some 35 native flowering plant and 28 native fern species. Over 30 of Gough's vascular plant taxa are endemic to the Tristan de Cunha islands. A total of 146 bryophytes have been recorded, eight of which are endemic, together with 20 fungi and 24 lichens. Invertebrate fauna also remains poorly known, but comprises 100 species, eight of which are endemic.
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversity: the UK Overseas Territories. Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee
    Biodiversity: the UK Overseas Territories Compiled by S. Oldfield Edited by D. Procter and L.V. Fleming ISBN: 1 86107 502 2 © Copyright Joint Nature Conservation Committee 1999 Illustrations and layout by Barry Larking Cover design Tracey Weeks Printed by CLE Citation. Procter, D., & Fleming, L.V., eds. 1999. Biodiversity: the UK Overseas Territories. Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Disclaimer: reference to legislation and convention texts in this document are correct to the best of our knowledge but must not be taken to infer definitive legal obligation. Cover photographs Front cover: Top right: Southern rockhopper penguin Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome (Richard White/JNCC). The world’s largest concentrations of southern rockhopper penguin are found on the Falkland Islands. Centre left: Down Rope, Pitcairn Island, South Pacific (Deborah Procter/JNCC). The introduced rat population of Pitcairn Island has successfully been eradicated in a programme funded by the UK Government. Centre right: Male Anegada rock iguana Cyclura pinguis (Glen Gerber/FFI). The Anegada rock iguana has been the subject of a successful breeding and re-introduction programme funded by FCO and FFI in collaboration with the National Parks Trust of the British Virgin Islands. Back cover: Black-browed albatross Diomedea melanophris (Richard White/JNCC). Of the global breeding population of black-browed albatross, 80 % is found on the Falkland Islands and 10% on South Georgia. Background image on front and back cover: Shoal of fish (Charles Sheppard/Warwick
    [Show full text]
  • Our Economy 2020 with Insights Into How Our Economy Varies Across Geographies OUR ECONOMY 2020 OUR ECONOMY 2020
    Our Economy 2020 With insights into how our economy varies across geographies OUR ECONOMY 2020 OUR ECONOMY 2020 2 3 Contents Welcome and overview Welcome from Andrew Hodgson, Chair, North East LEP 04 Overview from Victoria Sutherland, Senior Economist, North East LEP 05 Section 1 Introduction and overall performance of the North East economy 06 Introduction 08 Overall performance of the North East economy 10 Section 2 Update on the Strategic Economic Plan targets 12 Section 3 Strategic Economic Plan programmes of delivery: data and next steps 16 Business growth 18 Innovation 26 Skills, employment, inclusion and progression 32 Transport connectivity 42 Our Economy 2020 Investment and infrastructure 46 Section 4 How our economy varies across geographies 50 Introduction 52 Statistical geographies 52 Where do people in the North East live? 52 Population structure within the North East 54 Characteristics of the North East population 56 Participation in the labour market within the North East 57 Employment within the North East 58 Travel to work patterns within the North East 65 Income within the North East 66 Businesses within the North East 67 International trade by North East-based businesses 68 Economic output within the North East 69 Productivity within the North East 69 OUR ECONOMY 2020 OUR ECONOMY 2020 4 5 Welcome from An overview from Andrew Hodgson, Chair, Victoria Sutherland, Senior Economist, North East Local Enterprise Partnership North East Local Enterprise Partnership I am proud that the North East LEP has a sustained when there is significant debate about levelling I am pleased to be able to share the third annual Our Economy report.
    [Show full text]
  • Sylvia Undata
    Sylvia undata -- (Boddaert, 1783) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- PASSERIFORMES -- SYLVIIDAE Common names: Dartford Warbler; European Red List Assessment European Red List Status NT -- Near Threatened, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Near Threatened (NT) EU27 regional assessment: Near Threatened (NT) This warbler is undergoing rapid population declines in Spain, which holds c.69% of the European and EU27 populations, but apparent increases in the second largest population, in Portugal, mean that overall declines have been moderately rapid. It is therefore classified as Near Threatened in both Europe and the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Andorra; France; Italy; Malta; Portugal; Spain; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK) Vagrant: Belgium; Croatia; Czech Republic; Germany; Greece; Ireland, Rep. of; Montenegro; Netherlands; Serbia; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey Population The European population is estimated at 646,000-1,480,000 pairs, which equates to 1,290,000-2,970,000 mature individuals. The entire population is found in the EU27. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be decreasing at a rate approaching 30% in 12.3 years (three generations). For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology It favours dense, homogeneous scrub, garrigue and low maquis c. 0.5–1.5 m in height and dominated by species such as Ulex, Erica, Rosmarinus, Genista, Cistus and Quercus coccifera.
    [Show full text]
  • The Four Health Systems of the United Kingdom: How Do They Compare?
    The four health systems of the United Kingdom: how do they compare? Gwyn Bevan, Marina Karanikolos, Jo Exley, Ellen Nolte, Sheelah Connolly and Nicholas Mays Source report April 2014 About this research This report is the fourth in a series dating back to 1999 which looks at how the publicly financed health care systems in the four countries of the UK have fared before and after devolution. The report was commissioned jointly by The Health Foundation and the Nuffield Trust. The research team was led by Nicholas Mays at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The research looks at how the four national health systems compare and how they have performed in terms of quality and productivity before and after devolution. The research also examines performance in North East England, which is acknowledged to be the region that is most comparable to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in terms of socioeconomic and other indicators. This report, along with an accompanying summary report, data appendices, digital outputs and a short report on the history of devolution (to be published later in 2014), are available to download free of charge at www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/compare-uk-health www.health.org.uk/compareUKhealth. Acknowledgements We are grateful: to government statisticians in the four countries for guidance on sources of data, highlighting problems of comparability and for checking the data we have used; for comments on the draft report from anonymous referees and from Vernon Bogdanor, Alec Morton and Laura Schang; and for guidance on national clinical audits from Nick Black and on nursing data from Jim Buchan.
    [Show full text]