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Factors affecting the survival of
Birds of Conservation Concern
by David Leech |
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| 3. Birds of conservation
concern |
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| All breeding and wintering bird species in the UK,
Channel Islands and the Isle of Man have been assigned to one of
three groups based on their conservation status (Gibbons et al.,
1996). Much of the data used in calculating the conservation status
of these species was collected through the Integrated
Population Monitoring Programme. |
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- Red-listed species include those that have declined in number
by greater than 50% over the last 25 years, those that have shown
a historical population decline between 1800 and 1995, and those
species that are of global conservation concern. The 36 species
on the red list are of the most urgent conservation concern.
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The song thrush, a
red-listed species that has declined rapidly over the last 25
years.
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- Amber-listed species, of which there are 110, include those
that have shown a moderate decline in numbers (25%-49%) over the
last 25 years, and those with total populations of less than 300
breeding pairs. Also included are those species which represent
a significant proportion (greater than 20%) of the European breeding
or wintering population, those for which at least 50% of the British
population is limited to 10 sites or less, and those of unfavourable
conservation status in Europe.
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The kestrel has been
included on the amber list due to a moderate decline in the size
of the UK population over the last 25 years.
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- The remaining species are placed on the green list, indicating
that they are of low conservation priority, although population
sizes should be monitored.
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| Species on the red and amber lists are collectively known
as 'birds of conservation concern'. In recent decades, declines
have been observed across a large number of bird species (Fuller et
al., 1995; Siriwardena et al., 1998; Baillie et al.,
2001; Robinson & Sutherland, 2002). Farmland birds appear to have
been particularly susceptible to such declines. A significant proportion
of species of conservation concern (14 red-listed species and 13 amber-listed
species, Figure 3.1) regularly utilise lowland or upland farming areas
during the breeding and/or wintering season. Of these, eight species
on the amber list and all 14 on the red list have been listed due
to declines in population size. |
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| Figure
3.1 Farmland bird species of conservation concern (species in bold
type are those that have been listed as a result of population declines).
| Red-listed species |
Amber-listed
species |
| Grey partridge (Perdix
perdix) |
Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) |
| Quail (Coturnix coturnix) |
Golden plover (Pluvialis
apricaria) |
| Corncrake
(Crex crex) |
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) |
| Stone curlew (Burhinus
oedicnemus) |
Snipe (Gallinago
gallinago) |
| Turtle dove (Streptopelia
tutur) |
Curlew (Numenius arquata) |
| Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
|
Redshank (Tringa tetanus) |
| Song thrush
(Turdus philomelos) |
Stock dove (Columba
oenas) |
| Spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa
striata) |
Barn owl (Tyto alba) |
| Tree sparrow (Passer
montanus) |
Swallow (Hirundo
rustica) |
| Linnet (Carduelis
cannabina) |
Dunnock (Prunella
modularis) |
| Bullfinch
(Pyrrhula pyrrhula) |
Blackbird
(Turdus merula) |
| Cirl bunting (Emberiza
cirlus) |
Starling (Sturnus
vulgaris) |
| Corn bunting
(Miliaria calandra) |
Goldfinch
(Carduelis carduelis)1 |
Reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)
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| 1Goldfinch populations have fluctuated
widely, but over the longer term there has been little trend in
numbers. |
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