Press Releases - January/February 2009
Item 5

No. 2009/01/05
January 2009

Robins rue soggy summer

Scientists from the British Trust for Ornithology have highlighted the effect a second wet summer in a row has had on one of our favourite birds. Dr Rob Robinson, Principal Ecologist, reports that the Robin had its worst breeding season since the Trust began collecting records in 1983.

The Robin, arguably Britain’s favourite bird, suffered during 2008’s cool wet summer, with the number of young birds recorded down by 22% on normal, meaning almost a quarter of all young Robins were lost. The Robin wasn’t alone in this; Great Tit and Garden Warbler also experienced their worst breeding season, with productivity down by 35% and 34% respectively on normal. Song Thrushes and Blackbirds (at 35% and 32%) fared badly too, but it was not their worst ever year.

The timing of the wet weather was crucial. Nationally, the 2008 breeding season was wettest towards the end, during July and August, affecting those birds that have later broods. Worryingly, this followed a very wet summer in 2007. It wasn’t all doom and gloom. Two species that breed early in the season posted healthy rises in breeding populations, with Chiffchaff numbers 22% above average and Long-tailed Tit 16% above normal. Both these species nest earlier in the season and managed to miss the worst of the weather.

Twelve species suffered as a result of the weather. See table below.

	Reduced Productivity in 2008
Dunnock	-21%
Robin	-22%
Blackbird	-32%
Song Thrush	-35%
Sedge Warbler	-15%
Whitethroat	-18%
Garden Warbler	-34%
Blackcap	-24%
Willow Tit	-21%
Blue Tit	-25%
Great Tit	-35%
Chaffinch	-27%

Rob Robinson, Principal Ecologist at the BTO said, “Birds are used to coping with one or two wet summers, but several in a row can cause real problems. Bird ringers will be going out to monitor birds again this summer and are hoping for a more normal year, particularly following this winter’s cold snaps.”

Notes for Editors

1. The information to determine productivity is collected by volunteer bird ringers; some 400 take part across 120 sites around the country, putting up nets to ring birds in the same position within a site from year to year. Using this method, scientists at the BTO can determine the percentage of young and adult birds that are caught from one year to the next and can calculate abundance and productivity for 25 core species through what is known as the Constant Effort Sites Scheme.
   
   
2. The Constant Effort Sites Scheme is funded by a partnership of the BTO, the JNCC (on behalf of Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency), and also on the behalf of the Environment and National Parks and Wildlife (Ireland) and the ringers themselves.
   
   
3. The British Trust for Ornithology is the UK’s leading bird research organisation. Over thirty thousand birdwatchers contribute to the BTO’s surveys. They collect information that forms the basis of conservation action in the UK. The BTO maintains a staff of 90 at its offices in Norfolk and Stirling, who analyse and publicise the results of project work. The BTO’s investigations are funded by government, industry and conservation organisations.
   
   
4. Bird photographs are available for use alongside articles. E-mail with your request quoting reference number 2009/01/06
   
   
5. The BTO has an ISDN line available for radio interviews.

For further information, please contact:

Rob Robinson on 01842 750050 or email: (during office hours)

Paul Stancliffe on 01842 750050 or email: (during office hours)

or mobile 07845 900559 (anytime)