Appendix 1 – TableStatus A.1. The status andof raptor populationstrends in Britain of and Ireland. The raptorlatest breeding population populationsestimates are given. A shaded box indicates an area in where the species does not breed. Britain and Ireland a field guide for surveys and monitoring Raptors: 294 Species Units Scotland England Wales Northern Isle of Republic of Year Source(s) Ireland Man Ireland Honey-buzzard1 Confirmed 1 (4) 14 (31) 4 (6) S: 2006 Etheridge et al., 2008 (conf. + E, W: 2005 Holling & RBBP, 2008 probable) breeding pairs Red kite2 Confirmed 86 206 306 Re-introduction 2 S: 2006 Etheridge et al., 2008 breeding pairs (min) (min) programme E: 2005 Holling & RBBP, 2008 started 2008 W: 2005 Welsh Kite Trust, Holling & RBBP, 2008 I: 2009 Golden Eagle Trust, unpublished data White-tailed Territorial pairs 36 (31) Re-introduction 2005 Etheridge et al., 2008 eagle (pairs laying) programme started 2007 Marsh harrier3 Breeding 9 354 1 S: 2006 Etheridge et al., 2008 females E: 2005 RSPB, unpublished data (2005 national survey) NI: 2009 Don Scott, pers. comm. Hen harrier4 Territorial pairs 633 11 43 63 57 132 S, E, W, NI, IoM: 2004 Sim et al., 2007 Raptors: I: 2005 Barton et al., 2006 Montagu’s harrier Breeding 10 – 13 2005 Holling & RBBP, 2008 a fieldguideforsurveys andmonitoring females Goshawk Occupied home 130 120 200 5-10 3 – 6 S: 2000 – 2004 Petty, 2007 ranges (min) Pairs with nests E, W: 1995 Greenwood et al., 2003 NI: 94 – 2000 I: 2008 Irish Raptor Study Group Sparrowhawk5 Pairs 41,000 8,600 UK, IoM: 2000 Baker et al., 2006 I:1988-91 Greenwood et al., 2003 Buzzard6 Territories 31,100 – 44,000 500 – 750 UK: 2000 Baker et al., 2006 Pairs I: 2008 Irish Raptor Study Group Golden Breeding Pairs 441 1 2 S, E: 2003 Eaton et al., 2007 eagle I: 2009 Golden Eagle Trust, unpublished data 295 Osprey Pairs 205 – 210 5 (4) 2 (1) S, E, W: 2008 Osprey Study Group, unpublished data (pairs laying) (177 – 184) 296 Species Units Scotland England Wales Northern Isle of Republic of Year Source(s) Raptors: Ireland Man Ireland Kestrel7 Pairs 36,800 8,400 UK, IoM: 2000 Baker et al., 2006 I: 1988 – 91 Greenwood et al., 2003 a fieldguideforsurveys andmonitoring Merlin Breeding 800 400 80 25 – 40 0 – 4 200 – 400 S, E, W: 1993 – 94 Rebecca & Bainbridge, 1998 Pairs NI: 1992 – 95, Greenwood et al., 2003 I: 2008 Irish Raptor Study Group, unpublished data IoM: 1998 – 2003 Sharpe et al., 2007 Hobby8 Pairs 2,200 GB: 2000 Baker et al., 2006; Clements, 2001 Peregrine Breeding 544 477 264 87 30 312 – 350 UK, IoM: 2002 Banks et al., 2003 Pairs (occupied sites) I: 2002 David Norriss, pers. comm. Barn owl Pairs producing 545 – 1,000 3,400 300 140 – 210 < 40 300 – 350 S: Post 2004 Shaw, 2007 eggs Pairs Breeding E, W: 1995 – 97 Greenwood et al., 2003 pairs NI: 1988 – 91 I: 2008 Birdwatch Ireland, unpublished data IoM: 1998 – 2003 Sharpe et al., 2007 Little owl9 Pairs 5,800 – 11,600 GB: 2000 Baker et al., 2006 Tawny owl10 Territorial 19,400 1 GB: 2000 Baker et al., 2006 Pairs IoM: 1998 – 2003 Sharpe et al., 2007 Long-eared owl11 Pairs 450 – 1,750 550 – 1,800 10 – 40 530 – 1,730 22 1,500 – 2,500 UK: 1988 – 91 Greenwood et al., 2003; Park et al., 2005 IoM: 1998 – 2003 Sharpe et al., 2007 I: 2008 Irish Raptor Study Group Short-eared owl12 Pairs 640 – 2,700 210 – 740 10 – 40 0 - 3 0 - 5 1-3 S, E, W: 1988 – 91 Greenwood et al., 2003: Park et al., 2005 NI: 1997 – 2000 I: 2005 Irish Raptor Study Group IoM: 1998 – 2003 Sharpe et al., 2007 Raven13 Pairs 12,900 760 - 3,500 UK, IoM: 2000 Baker et al., 2006 I: (compilation of Ratcliffe, 1997; Gibbons et al., 1993 estimates 1976–96 – 1988–91) Notes for Table A.1: 1. The first survey of honey-buzzard in Britain, organised by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, found a total of 33 confirmed pairs (4 in Scotland, 24 in England and 5 in Wales) and a further 36 probable or possible breeding pairs (10 in Scotland, 21 in England and 5 in Wales; Ogilvie, 2003). Etheridge (2007) suggests that the Scottish population may be as many as 50 pairs based on the availability of suitable habitat. 2. Red Kite numbers have increased since the national survey of Britain in 2000 which produced respective estimates/counts of 259, 131 and 40 breeding pairs for Wales, England and Scotland (total 430; Wotton et al., 2002). A minimum of 588–705 pairs was recorded in 2005 and the maximum estimated at 900–970 pairs (Holling & RBBP, 2008). A reintroduction programme in the Republic of Ireland began in 2007. 3. A resident female marsh harrier was recorded in the Republic of Ireland in 2008 (Aonghus O Domhnaill, pers. comm.). 4. The criteria for defining territorial pairs of hen harrier in Ireland differ slightly from those used in the UK and Isle of Man (see Section 3.3 of hen harrier species account). 5. Recent population estimates for sparrowhawk are not available for all countries so a combined total for the UK and Isle of Man is given in the table. Separate estimates are available for Scotland: 7,000 active nests, 2002 (Park et al., 2005); and the Isle of Man: 75-80 breeding pairs, 1998 – 2003 (Sharpe et al., 2007). 6. Recent population estimates for buzzard are not available for all countries so a combined total for the UK is given in the table. Park et al., (2005) estimated 7,100 – 25,600 territory holding pairs in Scotland in 2003. The large range takes into account rates of change from Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) monitoring in Scotland between 1994-2003, which indicate an 81% increase (95% confidence limits 41% -132%) in abundance. 7. Recent population estimates for kestrel are not available for all countries so a combined total for the UK and Isle of Man is given in the table. Separate estimates are available for Scotland: 6,900 pairs producing eggs, 2003 (Park et al., 2005); and the Isle of Man: 120 breeding pairs, 1998 – 2003 (Sharpe et al., 2007). 8. Between 1-3 pairs of hobby have been reported from Scotland in recent years (Etheridge, 2005; Etheridge et al., 2006; Etheridge et al., 2008). 9. The Scottish population of little owls is unlikely to exceed a few tens of pairs (Park et al., 2005) and may be less than 10 pairs (Greenwood et al., 2003; Gordon, 2007). 10. The Scottish tawny owl population was estimated at between 3,900-5,700 pairs by Park et al. (2005) and 6,000 pairs by Petty (2007b). 11. Based on local atlas studies, and the fact that breeding of long-eared owls is almost certainly under-recorded (most records of breeding birds are of calling young, but 40- 60% of breeding attempts fail), Jardine (2007) suggests that the Scottish population may be 600 - 2,200 pairs. 12. Based on reported sightings of short-eared owls by fieldworkers taking part in the 2004 hen harrier survey, Calladine et al. (2005) estimated 423-658 apparently occupied territories in Scotland, 78-117 in Wales, and 1-2 in Northern Ireland (no estimate was available for England). These are likely to be underestimates because hen harrier fieldwork was not carried out at the best times of day for observing short-eared owls (which are likely to be most active in the early morning and evening) and will have omitted some of the grassy moorland habitats favoured by the owls. a field guide for surveys and monitoring Raptors: 297 13. Recent population estimates for raven are not available for all countries so a combined total for the UK and Isle of Man is given in the table. Park et al. (2005) estimate 1,400 – 13,200 pairs in Scotland in 2003 based on extrapolations from the 1988-91 breeding atlas data (Gibbons et al., 1993; upper estimate) and Ratcliffe (1997; lower estimate), taking into account an 85% increase in abundance reported from Scottish BBS squares between 1994 and 2003. Sharpe et al. (2007) estimate 85-89 breeding pairs on the Isle of Man, 2002. Table A.2. Population trends of raptors in Britain, Ireland and Europe. Species in bold type are those for which Britain and Ireland hold at least 5% of the European population (excluding Russia; population percentages based on Greenwood et al., 2003 for all species except raven which is based on BirdLife International, 2004). Trends are estimated for the period between 1970 and 2000 for Britain and Ireland. European trends for 1970 – 1990 are taken from Greenwood et al. (2003) and exclude Russia (except for raven where the trend is taken from BirdLife International, 2004); trends from 1990 - 2000 are taken from BirdLife International (2004) and include Russia. It should be noted that many of the ‘increase’ trends represent recoveries in numbers and range from previously low populations affected by persecution and pesticides. Species Proportion of Population trend Population trend Population trend European in Britain in Europe in Europe population in and Ireland (1970 – 1990) (1990-2000) Britain and Ireland (1970 – 2000) Honey-buzzard <0.1% Increase Stable Stable Red kite 2% Increase Increase Decline White-tailed eagle <1% Increase Increase Increase Marsh harrier <1% Increase Increase Increase Hen harrier 7% Increase Decline Decline Montagu’s harrier <0.1% Increase Increase Increase Goshawk <1% Increase Increase Increase Sparrowhawk 25% Increase Increase Buzzard 4% Increase Increase Increase Golden eagle 5% Increase Decline Stable Osprey 2% Increase Increase Increase Kestrel 20% Decline Decline Decline Merlin 9% Increase Decline Stable Hobby 6% Increase Decline Stable Peregrine 19% Increase Increase Increase Barn owl 3% Stable? Decline Decline Little owl 2% Stable? Decline Decline Tawny owl 4% Stable? Stable Stable Long-eared owl 2% Decline? Decline Stable Short-eared owl 12% Decline? Stable Fluctuating