Press Releases - May/June 2005

Item 2

7th June 2005

News Release 2005/06/16

Out of Africa – summer visitors in trouble

Thousands of birdwatchers across Britain and Ireland who have contributed to the online
bird-recording project 'BirdTrack' have recorded fewer Swallows, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Spotted Flycatchers this spring.

Every spring brings a predictable arrival of migrant birds to our towns, cities and countryside. These birds like the familiar Swallow, Spotted Flycatcher and Cuckoo spend the winter in Africa, south of the Sahara and return each summer to Britain to Ireland where the conditions here are most suitable for breeding. One of the main benefits of heading north each spring is the predictable surge of insects that the birds need to feed themselves and a nest of hungry chicks.

Results from the BTO/RSPB/BirdWatch Ireland project ‘BirdTrack’ show that fewer Swallows have been recorded this spring compared with the last two years. Using lists of birds recorded on the Internet by thousands of birdwatchers we can compare numbers year to year. Swallow occurrence is about 15% down compared to 2003 and 2004. Poor weather on migration, particularly in north Africa and southern Europe meant that birds did not find enough food to re-fuel properly after their long and difficult journey across the Sahara. For those that reached Britain and Ireland, the cold weather in April brought further problems.

Other species, most notably the Chiffchaff, a small warbler that winters in North Africa and Iberia, have also been recorded on fewer lists this spring compared with the last two years. 'BirdTrack' shows Chiffchaffs to be about 20% down on 2003 and 2004, whilst Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher are also down. All these species are insectivorous and the recent cold and wet weather makes it much more difficult for them to find insects.

Dawn Balmer, 'BirdTrack' Organiser commented, “Migration and breeding are very stressful times for birds and poor and unpredictable weather during these times can mean the difference between life or death for birds. For some species it might mean that they abandon breeding this summer if there is not enough food available for them to keep in good condition. Many of our migrant visitors will only have one breeding attempt each year so it could prove to be an unproductive summer”.

Some of our resident species like Blue Tit and Great Tit are also having a mixed breeding season with dead chicks found in many nest boxes this spring. The reasons for the deaths are unclear but a combination of poor weather leading to chilling of chicks and the inability of adult birds to find enough caterpillars to feed the young will have contributed.

Birdwatchers can help track the fortunes of our birds by submitting their birdwatching lists to BirdTrack (www.birdtrack.org) on a regular basis.

Notes for Editors

1. BirdTrack is an online bird recording scheme www.birdtrack.net organised by BTO on behalf of BTO, RSPB and BirdWatch Ireland.

2. To register for BirdTrack visit the BirdTrack website www.birdtrack.net and click on the 'Register for BirdTrack' link. Registering is free.

3. Birdwatchers are encouraged to enter their birdwatching lists online to support species and site conservation at local, national and international scales.

4. We need to gather a large number of lists at all times of the year. Complete lists (all species seen and heard) are preferred but incomplete lists and casual records will also help build our understanding of populations.

5. Results produced by BirdTrack will help us to map the migration and movements of birds and monitor of scarce birds in Britain and Ireland. Maps are available from for use in publications.

6. BirdTrack follows on from the successful Migration Watch project that looked at spring migration in 2002-2004. BirdTrack will run all-year and gather information on spring and autumn migration. We know very little about the timing of arrival and departure of winter visitors and this is just one area where BirdTrack will provide useful information.

7. Most of our summer visitors winter in Africa, ranging from the tip of South Africa for Swallow to West Africa for the likes of Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat. Information from bird ringing suggests that Willow Warbler winters in the Gulf of Guinea; around the Ivory Coast and Ghana. In contrast, Lesser Whitethroat is the only warbler to winter in East Africa with records from Egypt, Sudan, Chad and Ethiopia.

Images are available from

For further information please contact:

Dawn Balmer or Graham Appleton
BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU.
Tel: 01842 750050
E-mail: or

Grahame Madge
Media Officer, Conservation PR
RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL
Telephone: +44 (0) 1767 681577 Mobile and out of hours contact: 07702 196902
Pager: 07654 344078
E-mail:

For information about BirdTrack in the Republic of Ireland contact:

Olivia Crowe
BirdWatch Ireland, Rockingham House, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Tel: 353 - 1 - 2819878
Email:

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