Key Facts about: Wildlife
Population of wild birds: 1970-2007
United Kingdom
This is a UK Government sustainable development strategy indicator
Wild bird populations are considered to be a good indicator of the broad state of the wildlife and countryside. An overall ‘all bird species’ index for the UK (115 species) has remained broadly stable throughout the period from 1970 to 2007.
The breeding farmland birds index for the UK (19 species) is 48 per cent lower than its 1970 level. Most of the decline in the farmland birds index occurred between the mid-1970s and mid-1990s, but it has fallen over the last three years to its lowest recorded level.
Following a period of no significant change between 1999 and 2004, the farmland birds index for England has fallen in recent years (Figure 10). In particular the index showed a fall of almost 2 percentage points between 2006 and 2007 relative to the 1966 level; the largest fall for 15 years.
The breeding woodland birds index for the UK (38 species) is 22 per cent lower than its 1970 level. The most severe decline occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but the index has been broadly stable in recent years.
The breeding water and wetland birds index for the UK (26 species) is 6 per cent lower than its 1975 level.
The breeding seabirds index for the UK (19 species) is 31 per cent higher than in 1970. Populations peaked in the late 1980s, since when there is evidence of a small decline.
The wintering wetland birds index for the UK is 57 per cent higher than in 1975-76. Populations peaked in 1996-97, but there are signs of a decline in more recent years.
Although populations of the more common farmland and woodland birds have been declining, rare bird populations, which are not included in these indicators, have been stable or rising. This reflects conservation efforts focused on these rare species.
Related reports
A copy of the recently completed research paper by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the British trust for Ornithology (BTO) regarding habitat specific indicators is available in PDF format from the link below:
Preliminary BBS-based habitat-specific indicators for wild bird populations: 1994-2002. Download PDF (150kb)
A copy of the procedures for taking into account new and declining species in the indicators are set out in the paper completed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the British trust for Ornithology (BTO) which is available in PDF format from the link below:
Approaches to dealing with disappearing and invasive species in the UK's indicators of wild bird populations. Download PDF (150kb)
In Detail:
- Bird populations
- Research report: Regional version of the national indicator of sustainable development: 1994-2005, Published 15 March 2007
Further Information:
- Source:
- Defra, RSPB, BTO
- Press Release:
- Statistical release, 31 October 2008: Wild bird population: indicator for sustainable development
- Key Facts:
- Regional Wild Bird Indicators
- Changes in farmland bird populations
- Changes in woodland bird populations
- Sustainable Development Indicators:
- Revised indicators July 2008, please see: UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy indicators
Data Tables:
Download Chart Data: Microsoft Excel Population of wild birds
Download Chart Data: Microsoft Excel Population of farmland generalist and specialist birds
Download Chart Data: Microsoft Excel Population of wintering water birds
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Page last modified: 31 October 2008
Page published: 18 October 2007