Guy Anderson - RSPB Principle research manager, satellite tagging juvenile Hen harrier, Geltsdale, Cumbria

Safeguarding species

Ever since the RSPB began in 1889, we've helped species and that's still at the heart of what we do.

The species of greatest conservation concern and the threats they face may be different now, but the need to help wildlife is still urgent.

Which species and why

Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus, male in roost tree, Caledonian pine forest, Scotland

Why do species matter?

Ever since the RSPB began in 1889, we've helped species – and that's still at the heart of what we do.

RSPB Nene Washes Nature Reserve, reintroducing the Corncrake Crex crex to the reserve, Cambridgeshire

Which species need help?

A daunting number of bird species in the UK have declining populations. Some populations have already declined to a frac

How we can help

White-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla.
How do we help species recover? This depends on the species and the problems it faces.
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Case studies

Bittern, feeding in reeds

Bittern

Alarmed by the plunging bittern numbers, the RSPB started a research programme to investigate the needs of the bittern.

Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, adult, at beach feeding site, Oronsay RSPB reserve, February 2000

Chough

The RSPB is urging government to develop agri-environment policies to secure suitable grazing management for choughs.

Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus, adult male perching on song post. Devon

Cirl bunting

The cirl bunting is the UK’s rarest resident farmland bird with a population of only 1000 pairs.

Hen harrier Circus cyaneus, adult female perched on heather at Loch Gruinart RSPB reserve, Islay

Hen harrier

Hen harriers continue to decline in areas dominated by heather moorland that is managed for driven grouse shooting.

Osprey Pandion haliaetus, adult female landing at eyrie with moss

Osprey

The osprey is a magnificent bird of prey, with a wingspan of over 1.5 metres. The birds spend the winter in West Africa.

Abernethy RSPB reserve. Speyside, Scotland.

Pine hoverfly

The pine hoverfly is arguably the most endangered hoverfly in the UK.

Red kite Milvus milvus, in flight, UK

Red kite

Red kites were almost extinct in the UK by the early 1900s, reduced to very low numbers in Wales.

Skylark Alauda arvensis, at the grassy edge of a small field. Cornwall

Skylarks

The skylark is found across many types of open habitats. In the UK, of these, the single most important is farmland.

White-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla.

White-tailed eagle

The RSPB's work has helped the white-tailed eagle, the UK's largest bird of prey, to return to western Scotland.

Hen Harrier LIFE

Guy Anderson - RSPB Principle research manager and Brian Ethridge, satellite tagging juvenile Hen harrier, Geltsdale, Cumbria
An exciting five year programme of hen harrier conservation. Working cross-border to secure a future for one of the UK's most beautiful and threatened birds of prey.
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