The population status of birds in Wales 2 The population status Hall(rspb-images.com) Ben of birds in Wales 2 • The leading bird conservation • Forty-five species (21%) were organisations in Wales have revised placed on the red list: an increase the population status of the birds of 18. One hundred (47%) were that are regularly found in the placed on the amber list, which is country, so updating the review an increase of 31. Sixty-eight (32%) published in 2002. were placed on the green list, representing a fall of 57. • A total of 213 species were assessed using strict criteria and • Nine species moved to lists of each placed on one of three lists. lower conservation concern, These criteria have been revised while 63 species moved to higher since 2002 in line with the UK-level lists. Seven species moved straight assessment. The red list is for from green to red. Seven species globally threatened species, and were assessed for the first time species that have historically or and, of these, one was placed on recently shown large declines. The the red list. amber list is for species showing • The most frequent reason for recoveries or moderate declines, moving to a list of higher Pochard and for species that are localised, conservation concern was evidence rare or internationally important. of population decline. In a few The green list is for other species, cases a move was due to the including those showing further Species assessed changes in the criteria. Reasons for recoveries. moving to a lower list include This reassessment covered all species on the WRP1 list of birds recorded in improved status in Europe and Wales, excluding those that occur solely as vagrants, rare and scarce migrants successful colonisation. (as assessed by WOS2 and www.scarce-migrants.org.uk) and those considered extinct by the first assessment in 2002. However, we have included globally threatened species that have occurred in Wales during the past 20 years. We have also included previously red-listed species whose breeding populations 1 Welsh Records Panel 2 Welsh Ornithological Society could now be considered extinct. We did not assess non-native species. Data sources This review uses information from a • The annual BTO/RSPB/JNCC • National surveys of birds in • Trends in geographic distribution range of sources on the status of Wetland Bird Survey provides particular habitats, such as the are obtained for some species by birds in Wales, the UK, Europe and trends and local population sizes for Repeat Upland and Repeat comparing the results of recent internationally, up to 2006 in wintering waterbirds. Woodland surveys, provide data on surveys with the BTO/IWC7 1968-72 most cases. a range of species not reported by and BTO/SOC8/IWC 1988-91 • The Statutory Conservation other schemes in Wales. These breeding bird atlases. • The annual BTO3/JNCC4/RSPB5 Agencies and RSPB Annual surveys have been used where Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) Breeding Bird Scheme, along with • Global and European information they are considered representative provides trends for widespread the Seabird 2000 census, and comes from BirdLife International’s of national populations. breeding birds in Wales since RSPB and CCW6 surveys in Wales Threatened Birds of the World 1994. The UK status is used for provide data on population sizes • The County Bird Reports and the 2004, and Birds in Europe: species not reported on by BBS and trends for some species. Rare Breeding Bird Panel Reports population estimates, trends and in Wales, if there is no evidence provide annual information for rare conservation status. that Welsh trends differ to those breeding and non-breeding birds. of the UK. 3 British Trust for Ornithology 6 Countryside Council for Wales • The annual co-ordinated Seabird 4 Joint Nature Conservation Committee 7 Irish Wildbird Conservancy 5 8 Monitoring Programme provides The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scottish Ornithologists’ Club trends for seabirds. Chris Gomersall(rspb-images.com Black grouse 1 2 The criteria The red list criteria BDMr and BDMr At least 25% but less than 50% decline in breeding range (25 This review is based on the same eight IUCN Global Importance: globally years and longer term). broad criteria used in the first assessment. threatened using IUCN criteria. BR and WR Mean of less than 30 While it would be preferable to retain the breeding pairs or 90 individuals outside assessment method in successive reviews, HD Severe historical decline 1800-1994 breeding during the most recent we have made some changes since 2002 with no recovery. five-year period with data. that include those made at the UK level9. BDp1 and BDp2 At least 50% decline in These changes include a longer time period breeding population (25 years and UKred UK importance: red-listed at UK over which to assess recent population longer term). level, excluding those that qualify under change in addition to the 25-year period breeding categories but are not (1981-2006). This longer period runs WDp1 and WDp2 At least 50% decline established breeders in Wales. from 1969 to 2006, and prevents species in wintering population (25 years and that have made no recovery from declines longer term). UK 50 50% or more of the UK since 1969 but have been stable in the population of a species in Wales. BDr1 and BDr2 At least 50% decline in last 25 years from moving to lower lists. BRUK and WRUK At least 10% of the We have introduced a new rare non- breeding range (25 years and longer term). population of a UK rare breeding or breeding criterion (WR), which is equivalent wintering species (breeding and to the one for breeding (BR). Wales may non-breeding) in Wales. have a particular responsibility for the populations of some UK species. The amber list criteria BL and WL At least 50% of population Consequently there are new criteria to occurs at one site, but not a rare breeder show when Wales has 50% or more of the SPEC European Importance: Species (breeding and non-breeding). UK population of a species, and 10% or of European Conservation Concern 1, 2 BI and WI At least 2% of the European more of a UK rare wintering or breeding or 3. or East Atlantic Flyway population species (excluding those that are not (breeding and non-breeding). established as breeding species in Wales). HDrec1 Recovery from HD: at least 100% increase in numbers or range in The criteria that must be met to qualify for the last 25 years. the red, amber or green lists are shown The green list criteria BDMp1 and BDMp2 At least 25% but opposite. Species were assessed under as less than 50% decline in breeding many criteria as data availability allowed, All species that do not qualify under the population (25 years and longer term). and ordered following the Gill and Wright above, with the addition of: (2006) classification10. 1 2 WDMp and WDMp At least 25% but HDrec2 Further recovery from HDrec1 is less than 50% decline in wintering at least 20% increase since last 9Eaton et al (2009). British Birds, 102, pp296-341. population (25 years and longer term). assessment. 10Gill, F and Wright, M (2006). Birds of the World Recommended English Names. Princeton Sue Tranter Sue Tranter (rspb-images.com) University Press. Song thrush Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Andy Hay Wales’ new red list Non-breeding decline 25 years Non-breeding decline longer term Breeding decline 25 years Breeding decline longer term Further recovery from historical decline recovery Further Recovering historical decline Recovering Range decline longer term Range Range decline 25 yearsRange 2 1 Non-breeding decline longer term Non-breeding decline 25 years 1 2 1 2 2 1 Breeding decline longer term Breeding decline 25 years Range decline longer term Range Range decline 25 yearsRange 2 1 2 1 2 1 BDr WDp WDp BDMr BDMp WDMp WDMp BDMr Previous population status Previous IUCN Global Conservation Status HD Historic decline BDp BDMp BDr SPEC European conservation status HDrec BR Breeding rarity WR Non-breeding rarity BL Breeding localised WL Non-breeding localised UKred UK red list Wales At least 50% UK population in UK 50 Wales of UK rare breeders’ pop in At least 10% BRUK Wales of UK rare non-breeders in At least 10% WRUK BI Breeding internationally important WI Non-breeding internationally important HDrec Species BDp White-fronted goose R ■■ ■ Pochard G ■■■■ ■ Red grouse R ■■■ Black grouse R ■■■■ ■ Grey partridge R ■■■ ■ ■ Balearic shearwater NA ■■ ■ Hen harrier R ■■ ■■ Kestrel A ■■ Corncrake R ■■■■ ■ ■ Golden plover R ■■ ■ ■ Grey plover A ■■■ Lapwing R ■■ ■ ■ Dunlin A ■■ ■ ■■ ■ ■■ ■ Bar-tailed godwit R ■■ ■ ■ Curlew R ■■■ ■ Black-headed gull A ■■ ■■ ■ ■ Common gull G ■■ Herring gull A ■■ ■■ Great black-backed gull A ■■ Roseate tern R ■■ ■ ■ ■■ ■■ Common tern A ■■■ Arctic tern A ■ ■■ Little tern R ■■■ ■ Puffin R ■■■■ Turtle dove R ■■ ■■■ ■ Hen harrier NA – Not addressed Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Andy Hay Wales’ new red list Non-breeding decline 25 years Non-breeding decline longer term Breeding decline longer term Breeding decline 25 years Further recovery from historical decline recovery Further Recovering historical decline Recovering Range decline longer term Range Range decline 25 yearsRange 1 2 Non-breeding decline longer term Non-breeding decline 25 years 1 2 1 2 2 1 Breeding decline longer term Breeding decline 25 years Range decline longer term Range Range decline 25 yearsRange 2 1 2 1 2 1 BDr WDp BDMr WDp WDMp WDMp BDMr BDMp Previous population status Previous IUCN Global Conservation Status HD Historic decline BDp BDMp BDr SPEC European conservation status