Exactly 150 years ago, in 1859, when Charles Darwin wrote On the Origin of Species, the countryside around his Kent home would have looked much the same as it does today.
However, the father of evolutionary science would probably find it incredible to realise the number of changes which have taken place in our bird populations since then.
Several species extinct in the UK in Darwin's lifetime have bounced back thanks to conservation efforts. However great his biological insight, the 'great man' would probably have not have believed that red kites would be flying again over English skies or that the avocet would have recolonised and would be spreading around our coastline. However, birds like the corncrake would still have been heard in south-east England and birds of farmed landscapes, such as the corn bunting and grey partridge, would have still been ubiquitous in many parts.
The truth is that over time bird populations change, but the realisation is that they change rapidly. The publication of the State of the UK's Birds report over the last ten years has revealed a surprising trend: rare birds in the UK are doing much better than common ones.
This year, for example: the great bustard nested for the first time since 1832; the bittern had their best year on record; and cranes nested in the Fens for the first time in four centuries. The lesson that we need to learn - and fast - is how we can transfer the successes from conserving rare birds and apply them to ensuring a future for our common ones.
We should take a great deal of solace from the fact that some of our marshes now resound to an orchestra of bittern and crane accompanied by the aerial displays of marsh harriers. However, spare a thought for the skylark the next time you're lucky enough to hear one soaring above a wheat field. Despite providing the soundtrack to virtually all those glorious days of summer we enjoyed as children this favoured songster is declining rapidly, along with many other common birds.
The trick is to try to get all of our bird populations in healthy state. The conservation movement has proved that the commitment, public will and practical experience are there in abundance to restore the ravages of changes in our countryside. We now need the funding to ensure a healthy future for all of our species. The skylarks will sing to that!