The greenfinch, rooks and swifts have been added to the RSPB red list of birds in Wales, in worrying news about birds in Wales.
The report into the state of birds in Wales was done by the RSPB, Welsh Ornithological Society and more. Sadly, the report isn't good news for birds in Wales, as the number of birds in Wales on the red list has doubled since 2002. This means that there are now 60 species of birds on the red list Wales.
The red list for birds shows which birds are most at risk and need our help, birds will either be placed on the green list (which consists of the birds which are in least need of help), the Amber list (which is the middle list), and the red list (which are the birds most at risk).
There are some surprising birds that have been placed on the red list in Wales.
The most surprising entrant on the list is: rooks. Rooks in Wales have went from being on the green list in 2016, to now being on the red list. This is worrying, as it shows that rooks have experienced a significant decline in recent years, and, also shows a decline in one of the most common species of birds found in the UK.
Rooks aren't the only species of birds in Wales that have moved from the green list, to the red list, there are three species in total that have moved from green to red, and one species which has moved from amber to red.
Let's look at some other bird species.
Like rooks, greenfinches have seen a decline in Wales.
The decline of greenfinches in Wales has been massive, greenfinches are also on the red list of birds in Wales, which is a worrying sign, as like rooks, greenfinches used to be common.
Swifts have moved on the list since the last time they were assessed, they have moved from being on the amber list to the red list, this is another worrying decline as swifts have been a common and delightful summer visitor to the UK.
The Decline Of Birds 🐦
Sadly the decline in birds in Wales (and the rest of the UK) is alarming, and gives us an indication about the state of our natural world and environment.
There are many familiar and well-known species of birds on the red list, other species on the red list in Wales include -
Starlings
Puffins
Black-headed gulls
All of these bird species are familiar to us, but there are many more on the red list, a total of 60 bird species are on the red list in Wales. Two bird species have also been declared extinct in Wales - the corncake and the corn bunting.
To help save other bird species from extinction and further declines we need to protect our natural world and rewild. You can also help birds in your own garden, by making sure your bird feeders are cleaned regularly to help prevent diseases in birds. Finally, you can also help birds in your own garden by making your garden wildlife-friendly; providing shelter for birds can help them, you can do this by putting up bird boxes in your garden, and by planting hedges and trees in your garden.
We can all help reverse the decline of birds and other animals by making our gardens a space which is friendly for wildlife. 🐦