Skip navigation

Spotted flycatcher BAP report

Spotted flycatcher
Dramatic population declines puts the spotted flycatcher on the Red List

What are we trying to achieve?

The Government agreed a Biodiversity Action Plan for this species in 1998. The targets for this plan were revised in 2006 and are as follows:

  • In England, ensure the BBS index is no longer showing a negative trend by 2010 and is at least at 100% of the 2003 level by 2015. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales ensure the population is at 100% of the 2010 baseline by 2015. Immediate priority for these countries will be to establish the baseline population by 2010
  • In England and Wales, maintain the percentage of occupied BBS squares at the 2003 level. In Northern Ireland and Scotland, maintain the percentage of occupied BBS (i.e. 1 km) squares at 2010 levels by 2015. The immediate priority in NI and Scotland will be to establish the baseline

What is the RSPB doing to help?

In 2004-2006, the RSPB carried out field research to investigate causes of population decline and to propose prescriptive solutions. Data from this study are currently being analysed to determine the influence of insect food supplies, nest predation and habitat structure on productivity. This project builds on a pilot study in 2003, and is part of Action for Birds in England, a conservation partnership between Natural England and the RSPB.

Summary of progress

Population indices for farmland birds are based on long-term monitoring schemes; the JNCC funded Common Birds Census (CBC), for which 2000 was the final year; and its successor, the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). Between 1994 and 2005 spotted flycatcher numbers declined in the UK by a statistically significant 26%, according to the BBS. The long-term trend, assessed by the CBC, is a decline of 84% between 1970 and 2003. This means that we are a still some way from achieving the BAP targets despite their revision. There was an encouraging, but statistically non-significant increase from 2004 to 2005.

Has our work been effective?

The RSPB research project has not yet reported and therefore existing information on the causes of decline of this species is inadequate to inform advocacy and advisory work.

This species may benefit from some of the generic prescriptions included in some of the agri-environment schemes, and possibly from woodland grant schemes in England, but these are unlikely to be available on a wide enough scale to allow plan targets to be met.

What do we plan to do next?

  • This is a difficult species to work on but diagnostic research will continue, concentrating on the roles of habitat structure, invertebrate food supply and nest predation
  • We will also consider the effects of changes in the African wintering grounds
  • Continue to analyse data from the RSPB research project. This will inform the direction of any further work

What are the constraints to fully achieving the targets?

  • Lack of detailed knowledge of the reasons for the decline in numbers

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Natural England for its financial support towards our work on spotted flycatchers, which forms part of Action for Birds in England, a conservation partnership between NE and the RSPB. The research project also received input from the Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, University of Reading.

Last modified: 04 September 2007