If the status of species that have shown long-term declines were now improving, we would expect to find trends to be more positive in recent years compared with the earlier part of the time series. To examine this, we list in Table 4.3.1 the best change estimates over the most recent ten-year period for which we have data (1996–2006) for all of the declining species listed in the previous section of this report (section 4.2). The table also includes four species, Wood Warbler (amber), Red Grouse (amber), Grasshopper Warbler (red) and Snipe (amber) for which we can report ten-year trends but lack reliable data covering longer periods.

The 43 species listed include 17 from the red list, 18 declining species that are amber listed on account of population declines and eight species that are not formally listed as declining. The eight species include Curlew which is already amber listed for reasons concerned with its European status.

Eight species at the foot of the table, Grey Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Snipe, Tree Sparrow, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Goldcrest and Whitethroat, show clear positive trends over the last ten years. The increases in the red-listed Reed Bunting and Song Thrush are particularly encouraging, as are the positive trends for the amber-listed Grey Wagtail and Dunnock. However, the most recent figures for Song Thrush and Grey Wagtail suggest that their recoveries may be levelling off well short of their previous population levels. Similarly while the BBS shows a 29% increase in Snipe over the last ten years, much of the former range across lowland Britain lost since the 1960s remains unoccupied, and moreover the population has been declining again since 2003. Whitethroat numbers have increased steadily since the mid 1980s but are still far below the population level prior to the 1968/69 crash. The increase in Tree Sparrow numbers is very welcome but is coming from such a low level that numbers remain far below those of the mid 1970s, with the population trend graph still showing little sign of a clear recovery.

Ten-year changes for the remaining 26 species in Table 4.3.1 indicate ongoing declines, with rates equivalent to at least 25% over 25 years. Four species, Willow Tit, Turtle Dove, Wood Warbler and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, have declined by more than 50% over the last ten years alone. For Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, the ten years in question are 1989–99, since when the species has become too scarce for BBS to monitor. A further 12 species have declined by more than 25% over the last ten years alone. The ongoing declines of so many of the species listed in Table 4.3.1 must be a cause of serious conservation concern.

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