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Regional wild bird indicators for the English regions: 1994-2007

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STATISTICAL RELEASE

Ref: 111/09
Date: 12 May 2009

This statistical release provides updated figures for bird populations in the English Government Office Regions, covering farmland, woodland and all native birds. Between 1994 and 2007, the population index of farmland birds showed a decline of more than 10 per cent in five regions; the South West, the South East, the East of England, the East Midlands. During the same period the farmland bird index for England dropped by 13 per cent.

There was a six per cent decline in the woodland birds index for England between 1994 and 2007, while indices increased by more than 10 per cent for the North West, the North East, Yorkshire & the Humber and the East Midlands. The woodland birds index decreased by more than 10 per cent for the South East region.

There was a 2 per cent increase in the all species birds index for England. The indices increased by more than 10 per cent for the North West, the North East and Yorkshire & the Humber. The all native bird species index decreased more than 10 per cent for the South East region.

These indicators are based on the Breeding Bird Survey run by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO),   which provides comprehensive information on the medium term changes in bird populations across the UK. The changes shown by the regional indicators for 1994 to 2007 need to be interpreted in the light of the long-term decline in the populations of farmland and woodland birds apparent from the national indicators.

The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) monitors terrestrial birds throughout the UK to provide information that underpins the conservation of species and habitats. The BBS is organised by the BTO on behalf of BTO, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

Key results

Farmland species
  • Farmland birds are birds that feed in open grass or arable fields on farmland, although they may nest in a variety of different habitats such as hedgerows, small woods, grass margins, arable crops or grassland. They are generally more strongly associated with lowland farmland, although many will occur in upland farms.
  • Between 1994 and 2007, the population indices of farmland birds showed a decline of more than 10 per cent in five regions: the South West, the South East, the East of England, the East Midlands and the West Midlands
  • The farmland birds index for England dropped by 13 per cent between 1994 and 2007. There was a seven per cent decrease in the farmland birds index between 2006 and 2007 making it the greatest yearly decline since 1998.
  • There were moderate increases for a few farmland species. Jackdaw, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon and Goldfinch recorded increases of more than 20 per cent in their respective indices between 1994 and 2007.
Woodland species
  • There was a six per cent decline in the woodland birds index for England between 1994 and 2007, while indices increased by more than 10 per cent for the North West, the North East, Yorkshire & the Humber and the East Midlands. The woodland birds index decreased by more than 10 per cent for the South East region.
  • The largest increase in woodland bird populations between 1994 and 2007 was in the North West, which saw a rise of  42 per cent in the birds population index. There was a 30 per cent increase in Yorkshire and the Humber region.
  • At the national level woodland birds species showing the greatest increases were Siskin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Goldcrest and Blackcap -each recording increases of more than a 50 per cent in their indices whilst Spotted Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Nightingale, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Willow Tit recording a decrease of more than 50 per cent in their respective indices.
All native bird species

Care should be taken to interpret the results for the all native bird species indices of regional wild bird populations as they cover a wide range of different species in each region.

  • There was a 2 per cent increase in the all species birds index for England. The indices increased by more than 10 per cent for the North West, the North East and Yorkshire & the Humber. The all native bird species index decreased more than 10 per cent for the South East region.

 The full report is available on the Defra website in the e-Digest of environmental statistics at:
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/wildlife/research/rwbi.htm
The overall change in the England indicator is not in any technical sense an average of the changes in the individual regional indicators, because there are differences in the species composition of the indices in some of the regions.

End

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Page published: 12 May 2009