A new UK government report shows that woodland birds have declined by 29% since the 1970s across the UK.
There are several reasons why woodland birds have declined so much in recent decades. Part of the reason for the decline in woodland birds has been due to a lack of woodland diversity over the last few decades, this has been caused by a ‘lack of woodland management’. Another reason for the decline has been due to changes in farmland management; the removal of things like hedgerows on farmlands has resulted in a decline of both woodland and farmland birds. Another reason that woodland birds have been declining in the UK is due to a decline in migrant woodland birds. A major cause in these migrating birds declining is due to their habitats being destroyed or declining in quality in countries outside of the UK. Most of the decline in woodland birds happened during the 80s and 90s when there was a significant decline in these animals. However, that decline is still present, the report showed that in the short term, there has been a 51% decline in breeding woodland birds, whereas, in the long term, there has been a 31% decline in breeding woodland birds across the UK.
What does this say about the health of our woodlands? And, what does it say about the health of other animals that live within woodlands? The report indicates that our woodland bird populations are collapsing. And if bird populations are collapsing within woodlands, then what does that say and indicate about other wild animals within woodlands? It is an indication that other animals within woodlands are declining and collapsing too - if bird populations decline, then that will have a knock-on effect to other animals which rely on birds to survive, these animals include birds of prey and foxes. An Uneven Decline In Bird Species
Some bird species have however declined much more than others. There are several species which have declined significantly since 1970. The following species have declined by 80%, according to the report: Capercaillie Spotted Woodpecker Lesser Redpoll Spotted Flycatcher All of these bird species have almost been wiped out since the 1970s. But, it gets worse: the Willow Tit has been the woodland bird species which has declined the most since the 1970s, these animals have declined a massive 94%, which means they have almost entirely been wiped out since 1970. Today, the Willow Tit is at risk of extinction, there are only 3,400 pairs of them left. It’s Not All Bad News
The report and the state of our woodland birds is dire, however, it is not all bad news. One species has thrived tremendously: the great spotted woodpecker has trebled in their population in recent decades. While another two bird species - the blackcap and nuthatch, have doubled their population over the same period of time. While for these woodland bird species things have improved significantly, for most of our woodland bird species this isn’t the case.
Sources: https://theecologist.org/2019/nov/08/farmland-woodland-bird-populations-collapsing https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/845012/UK_Wild_birds_1970-2018_final.pdf https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/willow-tit/