UKBI – C5. Birds of the broader countryside and at sea | JNCC

Figure C5aia. Breeding farmland birds within the UK, 1970 to 2022

Figure C5aib. Long-term and short-term modifications in individual species’ traits for farmland birds within the UK, 1970 to 2021

Figure C5bia. Breeding woodland birds within the UK, 1970 to 2022

Figure C5bib. Long-term and short-term modifications in individual species’ traits for woodland birds within the UK, 1970 to 2021

Figure C5cia. Breeding water and wetland birds within the UK, 1975 to 2022

Figure C5cib. Long-term and short-term modifications in individual species’ traits for water and wetland birds within the UK, 1975 to 2021

Figure C5dia. Breeding seabirds within the UK, 1986 to 2019

Figure C5dib. Long-term and short-term modifications in individual species’ traits for seabirds within the UK, 1986 to 2018

Figure C5eia. Wintering waterbirds within the UK, 1975/76 to 2021/22

Figure C5eib. Long-term and short-term modifications in individual species traits for wintering waterbirds within the UK, 1975/76 to 2020/21

Assessment of change in chicken populations

Notes for Assessment of Change desk:

1. Whilst latest 12 months share modifications within the indices are reported based mostly on essentially the most recent smoothed information level (2022), the formal long-term and short-term assessments of the statistical significance of those modifications are made utilizing the smoothed information to 2021. This is as a result of essentially the most recent smoothed information level (2022) is more likely to change in subsequent 12 months’s update when further information are included for 2023.
2. Analysis of the underlying traits is undertaken by the info suppliers. Smoothed information are available for farmland, woodland, wetland and wintering waterbirds, however not for seabirds.
3. The change evaluation for the seabirds measure has been eliminated till a approach of assessing variability is devised. This follows suggestions in a top quality assurance science panel report, dated January 2016.
4. Due to the impacts of COVID-19, there aren’t any unsmoothed information available for wintering waterbirds in 2020/21, as such a latest 12 months change evaluation is unavailable.

 The long-term decline of the farmland chicken indicator within the UK has been pushed primarily by the decline of these species which are restricted to, or extremely depending on, farmland habitats (the ‘specialists’, which account for 12 of the 19 species within the indicator). Between 1970 and 2022, the index for farmland specialists declined by 72% whereas for farmland generalists it declined by 22%. Of the 12 farmland specialists, 5 (corn bunting, gray partridge, starling, turtle dove, and tree sparrow) have skilled extreme declines in extra of 80% since 1970 due largely to modifications in farmland practices. Two farmland specialists (inventory dove and goldfinch) have greater than doubled over the identical interval, illustrating how responses to pressures varies amongst species. Generalist species have fared higher than specialists though the speed of decline for generalists has been much like the specialists within the brief time period.  Amongst the generalists, woodpigeon and jackdaw populations have greater than doubled relative to 1970 ranges whereas three of the generalist species have declined over the long-term interval: greenfinch by 69%, yellow wagtail by 66% and kestrel by 54%. Of the remaining two generalist species: rook numbers haven’t modified general, and reed bunting has declined at a decrease charge (-33% over the long-term). Overall, farmland birds have been impacted by modifications within the suitability of farmland for breeding and wintering in addition to pressures confronted by people who undertake lengthy migrations. However, most farmers can and do take optimistic steps to preserve birds on their land. In specific, quite a few incentive schemes encourage improved environmental stewardship in farming, with some measures particularly designed to assist stabilise and recuperate farmland chicken populations. These embody the availability of over-wintered stubbles and planted wild chicken crop covers to supply seed within the winter, uncropped margins on arable fields and sympathetic administration of hedgerows. There is rising proof that such motion can ship native recoveries in farmland chicken populations and thus, if delivered at acceptable scale, wider restoration. Changes in numbers skilled by some species could, to a lesser extent, be additional pushed by different pressures. For instance, there’s proof of an opposed impression from illness for some species, most notably greenfinch.

 The woodland chicken index comprises information for 37 species. The general development masks totally different underlying traits for specialist species, these that are extremely depending on woodland habitats, and generalist species, that are present in a variety of habitats, together with woodland. In 2022, the woodland specialists index was 55% decrease than in 1970, whereas the index for woodland generalists was 5% decrease than in 1970. Populations of two woodland generalist species (bullfinch and track thrush) have declined by greater than 45% since 1970. Only one species, long-tailed tit, has elevated (by 90%) on this interval. Four woodland specialists, lesser noticed woodpecker, noticed flycatcher, capercaillie and willow tit, have declined by over 90% relative to 1970 ranges. In distinction, populations of nuthatch have greater than trebled over the identical interval and each blackcap and nice noticed woodpecker have greater than quadrupled in numbers. Trends in long-distance migrants could presumably replicate altering situations on their wintering grounds whereas declines in residents corresponding to lesser noticed woodpecker, willow tit and capercaillie should be as a result of elements on their breeding grounds. Probable causes for this embody an absence of woodland administration (together with the cessation of conventional practices corresponding to coppicing) and elevated deer searching strain, each of which end in a decreased variety of woodland construction and decreased availability of appropriate nesting and foraging habitats. 

 The breeding water and wetland chicken measure will be disaggregated to 4 sub-habitat indicators (birds of quick flowing water, birds of gradual and standing water, birds of reedbeds and birds of moist grasslands) though every consists of comparatively few species. The index for birds of reedbeds is made up of 4 species, and is exhibiting essentially the most optimistic development of those teams. In 2022 it was 16% larger than in 1975. In the brief time period it elevated by 8%. In birds of gradual flowing and standing water, which incorporates mallard, the index was 12% larger than in 1975. However, there was a 14% lower within the short-term interval between 2016 and 2021, reflecting a unfavorable turn-around within the fortunes of this group within the final decade. The index of birds of moist grassland, together with quite a few wader species, has decreased by 51% since 1975, and the index for birds of quick flowing water (together with dipper) decreased by 20% in comparison with 1975. 

 The breeding seabird index has not been up to date for the reason that publication in 2020. Therefore the traits introduced right here precede the onset of avian flu in Britain’s seabirds and the devastating results this has had on many species.

The seabird measure is focussed on the marine surroundings. Accordingly, for quite a few species (e.g. herring gull, nice cormorant), the indicator makes use of information for coastal populations (colonies inside 5 km of the shoreline) solely, slightly than information from all breeding areas of those species. This focusses the indicator on modifications on the coast and in marine waters however means modifications in inland populations are usually not taken under consideration. In 2019, the breeding seabird index within the UK was 24% decrease than in 1986, barely above the bottom degree ever recorded (of 31% decrease than 1986, recorded in 2013). Despite fluctuations, the indicator was largely flat from 1986 till the early-2000s when seabird numbers began to say no and the long-term development (to 2018) exhibits a big 28% lower. However, extra just lately the unsmoothed breeding seabird index has elevated, non-significantly, by 3% between 2013 and 2018. One of the 13 seabird species has elevated for the reason that starting of the index in 1986; razorbill numbers have greater than doubled. Two species have declined strongly since 1986; Arctic skua by 80% and black-legged kittiwake by 64%. The decline of black-legged kittiwakes has been linked to local weather change impacts on marine meals webs, and fishery pressures. However, there was some enchancment within the brief time period, throughout which black-legged kittiwakes have proven a powerful enhance, of 20% between 2013 and 2018. In addition to black-legged kittiwakes one other two of the 13 seabird species have elevated strongly between 2013 and 2018; razorbill and sandwich tern by 35% and 26% respectively. Numbers of nice black-backed gull are lowering strongly by 32% within the brief time period, though the long-term development is a weak decline. Some seabirds have been impacted by way of predation by invasive non-native mammals corresponding to rats and mink, although profitable eradication programmes have been carried out in quite a few areas and populations of some species have undergone native recoveries consequently.

 The wintering waterbird measure elevated steadily from the 1975 to 1976 baseline and peaked in 1996, and has largely declined since, falling by 9% between 2016/2017 and 2021/2022. The separate wader and wildfowl indices present broadly comparable patterns of enhance adopted by lower, though the change within the wildfowl indicator has been better. Overall, the wildfowl index has almost doubled (97% enhance) and the wader index has elevated by 66% since 1975/1976. However, each peaked within the late Nineteen Nineties and have declined subsequently; between 2016/2017 and 2021/2022, the index for wildfowl declined by 11% and the index for waders declined by 5%. Long-term decreases had been noticed for the Bewick’s swan, European white-fronted goose, scaup, and pochard which declined by 87%, 70%, 68% and 60% respectively. Four of the 13 wildfowl species exhibiting the strongest will increase are: the British/Irish greylag goose, gadwall, whooper swan and Svalbard light-bellied Brent goose. The British/Irish greylag goose and gadwall are estimated to be growing in wintering numbers by 37-fold and 14-fold respectively. Wintering numbers of whooper swan and Svalbard light-bellied Brent goose are additionally estimated to have elevated by greater than 10-fold. Amongst waders, 33% of the wader species elevated, 60% confirmed little change and seven% declined. The indices for avocet and black-tailed godwit confirmed the strongest will increase, wintering numbers now greater than 12 and 9 instances what they was (and avocet is just included within the indicator since 1989/1990). Dunlin have proven the steepest decline, declining by 49% for the reason that winter of 1975/1976, and wintering numbers of ringed plover at the moment are 39% decrease.