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LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis
 
Conservation Listings Long term trend

Unlisted/Green
Biodiversity Steering Group: Unlisted

UK: Uncertain
Linear waterways: Rapid decline late 1970s
 
Status Summary
The Little Grebe is not monitored well by the CBC, WBS or BBS, and each survey shows a different pattern of population change. The decline shown by the WBS may reveal problems among birds on linear waterways in the late 1970s, while the increase shown by the CBC may suggest that wider populations (including small stillwaters) are healthy. In an analysis of Nest Record Cards, Moss & Moss (1993) found that nests on ponds and lakes were significantly more successful than those on rivers and streams and that nests on rivers, subject to fluctuating water levels, experienced significantly higher failure rates through flooding than those on canals, where water levels are artificially controlled.
 
 
Table of population changes for Little Grebe
Source Period
(yrs)		 Years Plots
(n)		 Change
(%)		 Lower
limit		 Upper
limit		 Alert Comment
CBC all habitats 30 1968-1998 15 149 10 899   Unrepresentative? small sample
  25 1973-1998 16 13 -45 190   Unrepresentative? small sample
  10 1988-1998 13 8 -39 101   Unrepresentative? small sample
  5 1993-1998 15 -2 -32 46   Unrepresentative? small sample
WBS waterways 23 1975-1998 18 -51 -79 -4 >50 Small sample
  10 1988-1998 16 -17 -48 19   Small sample
  5 1993-1998 16 -20 -44 -2   Small sample
BBS UK 5 1994-1999 43 41 -3 105   Small sample
BBS England 5 1994-1999 37 89 25 184   Small sample
The Breeding Bird Survey is jointly funded by BTO, JNCC and RSPB
 
 
Productivity information is not currently available for this species
 
   




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