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State of the UK's birds 2002_tcm9-42169.jpg)
Download the full document (and reports for 2000 and 2001) by clicking on the links to the right
The UK Government uses breeding bird populations as an indicator of sustainability. The indicator for wild birds, which is one of 15 headline indicators of the Quality of Life in the UK, shows stability in common birds, although woodland birds have declined moderately, and farmland birds steeply. There have been encouraging signs of meeting the targets for some species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Positive progress has been made with the stone-curlew, bittern, corncrake and cirl bunting. The successes are balanced by the continuing critical status of the capercaillie, and the virtual regional extinction of the red-backed shrike and wryneck. It has not been possible to assess the status of some of the more common species because of the impact of foot and mouth disease. Common birds
Population recovery of common birds, such as farmland birds, requires solutions at a sufficiently large scale. The last year has seen bold steps by the UK Government towards reversing the downward trend in farmland birds. Acceptance of the recommendations on agricultural reform, for example in the Curry Report, will further help farmland birds. Birds of prey
Birds of prey in the UK have benefited from conservation action, through a combination of land-use policies, species protection and Government-backed campaigns against illegal killing. We have seen the recovery of species such as the white-tailed eagle and red kite, although persecution and secondary poisoning still occur, limiting populations and species in some areas. Seabirds
The trends among seabirds are linked to their food and the way they feed. Monitoring of seabird colonies has shown numbers of some species to have increased or remained stable, but others, such as kittiwakes and shags, have declined at these colonies. A national survey of seabirds will provide more insight into their long-term population trends when the results are published in 2004. Wintering water birds
Over the last 30 years, the numbers of wintering water birds in the UK has increased strongly in response to protection, re-creation and management of habitats. A water bird indicator has shown a short-term decline from around 1996, however, marking a change in the upward trends. Conservation concern
A major new assessment of the population status of birds in the UK places 40 species on the red list (of highest conservation concern), 121 on amber and 86 on the green list (lowest concern). Five birds have moved from the red to the amber lists as their populations are recovering, largely in response to targeted conservation action. Overall, the red list has grown by four species and the amber list by 11, since the last review in 1996. All of the birds added to the red list qualify because of population decline. This review highlights the continuing plight of farmland birds and raises concern for some woodland, urban and upland species. UK overseas territories
The UK Overseas Territories are host to internationally important bird populations; 34 globally threatened species, 13 near-threatened species and 24 endemic bird species. Increased monitoring activity in recent years has raised concern for some species, particularly regarding the negative impact of long-line fisheries on albatrosses on Gough Island and South Georgia. There is a need both for a strategic approach to bird monitoring and a concerted effort to improve knowledge of critical populations. Recent designation of Ramsar sites on a number of the Overseas Territories is a positive development and will aid the protection of habitats for a number of threatened birds.
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