Latest results from the Breeding Bird Survey
(1994-2007)

The BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is the main scheme aimed at keeping track of changes in the breeding populations of widespread bird species across the UK. Each year, nearly 3,000 volunteer birdwatchers count birds on over 3,500 randomly selected 1km grid squares across the UK. This enables us to calculate UK population trends for 104 species, and separate trends for the four constituent countries (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and the nine English Government Office Regions. Knowledge of the status of our bird populations is fundamental to their conservation.

We do not report population trends for five gull species (Black-headed, Common, Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Great Black-backed), as a large proportion of the counts are of non-breeding, wintering or migratory birds. Trends for Cormorant, Grey Heron and Common Tern are reported with the caveat that counts may contain a high proportion of birds away from breeding sites, and the trend for Tawny Owl with the caveat that the BBS method monitors nocturnal species poorly.

Table of UK population changes

The figures presented are the percentage population changes for 2006-2007 and 1994-2007, marked with an asterisk where the change is significant, for all species with a sample size of at least 40 squares. Red-listed and amber-listed species from Population Status of Birds in the UK are shown in the relevant colour. UK trends for Hobby and Ring-necked Parakeet are also shown because these species meet the criteria for reporting in England where most of their populations reside. LCL and UCL are the lower and upper confidence limits for the 94-07 trend. Trends for species in brackets are reported with caveats (see above)