Little Egrets continue to rise whilst Blue Tits are declining. Read on to learn more about the ups and downs of the UK’s birds.
5 min read
The RSPB helps to organise several nationally important surveys which record population changes in hundreds of UK bird species. These programmes are mainly run in partnership with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). By collecting data every year for several decades, these reports enable conservationists to find out how species are doing in the long term and identify which might need our help.
Simon Wotton, Senior Conservation Scientist in the RSPB's monitoring team, shares the results of two important surveys released this month.
The 31st annual report of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and Waterways Breeding Bird Survey (WBBS) has just been published. The report documents the population trends of widespread UK breeding birds in the long- (1994–2025) and short-term (1998–2025).
The BBS and WBBS are the main schemes for monitoring population changes in the UK’s widespread breeding birds, and they provide an important indicator of the health of the countryside. Trends are produced each year for 119 species based on BBS data, and for 28 waterway specialist species based on WBBS data. The results are used widely to set priorities and help inform conservation action.
It was a record year for volunteers taking part, with nearly 3,000 skilled and dedicated volunteers visiting 4,058 survey squares across the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. A survey square is a randomly selected 1-km square in the UK’s National Grid.
The report focuses on the recent declines of Blue Tits and Great Tits in the UK. Although declines of Willow Tits (92% 1995–2024) and Marsh Tits (53%) are well reported, it is also apparent that Blue Tits and Great Tits have also undergone recent declines, with 10-year declines of 8% and 17% respectively. For Great Tits, these 10-year declines are across the UK and across habitat types.
The BBS report highlights that several species are showing different trends in England and Scotland. For most of these species, populations are on the increase in Scotland whilst they are declining in England. These species are Cuckoos, Jays, House Martins, Willow Warblers, Tree Sparrows, Tree Pipits and Bullfinchs.
Mistle Thrushes now reported as showing a long-term decline of 35% in Northern Ireland, but Song Thrushes have increased by 75%.
The report also reveals that the Yellowhammer population in Wales has declined by 75% since 1995. Curlews have declined by 74% in Wales since 1995.
Across the UK 34 species have shown long-term increases between 1995 and 2024. The greatest increase is in Little Egrets which are up by an impressive 2,748%.
But 43 species have shown long-term declines over the same period – with the steepest decline by Turtle Doves which is down by a staggering 98%. These are the greatest increases and steepest declines in each country:
In England - Red Kites are up 2,613% and Turtle Doves are down 98%.
In Scotland - Chiffchaffs are up 1,443% and Greenfinches are down 69%.
In Wales - Canada Geese are up 753% and Swifts are down 76%.
In Northern Ireland - Blackcaps are up 725% and Greenfinches are down 89%.
Also published this month was the 43rd Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) report, which includes results from the Goose and Swan Monitoring Programme (GSMP).
WeBS aims to assess the size of non-breeding waterbird populations, determine trends in numbers and distribution, and assess the importance of individual sites for waterbirds. The GSMP monitors the abundance and breeding success of the UK’s native geese and migratory swans during the non-breeding season. WeBS is the principal scheme for monitoring the populations of the UK's wintering waterbirds, and it provides an important indicator of the status of waterbird populations and the health of wetlands.
The 2024/25 report documents waterbird counts at 3,435 sites across the UK. These sites were surveyed by over 4,000 WeBS counters.
Many of the sites monitored under WeBS are of international importance and designated as Ramsar Sites and Special Protection Areas, including the five principal WeBS sites over the past five years: The Wash, Ribble Estuary, Morecambe Bay, Dee Estuary and the Humber Estuary.
These places support many thousands of water birds and in 2024/25, there were eight sites with a five-year average in excess of 100,000 birds, and a further 39 sites with a five-year average in excess of 20,000 birds. The RSPB’s East Coast Wetlands appeal is seeking to protect key sites for our non-breeding waterbirds, including two of the top five WeBS sites.
Bewick’s Swans have declined by 96% over the last 25 years whilst Whooper Swans have increased by 25% in the last decade.
The global population of Greenland White-fronted Geese in spring 2025 comprised 5,086 in Ireland and 8,217 in Britain. This was the lowest count on record and marks a decline of 11.6% from 2024. Trends for Pink-footed Geese and Svalbard Barnacle Geese were similar to previous year.
Black-tailed Godwits have continued to increase, reaching their highest numbers on record in 2024/25. Avocets were slightly down compared to 2023/24 but they still have a strong 10-year positive trend of 35%.
Several wader species are showing some stability, with 10-year trends between -1% and +7% for Oystercatchers, Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers, Turnstones, Knots and Redshanks. All of these except Knots have a negative trend for the 25-year period. Curlews and Bar-tailed Godwits continue to decline, by 24% and 22% respectively over 10 years.
Many duck species are declining. The Mallard reached a record low in 2023/24 but this report reveals that it is showing some signs of stabilising despite 16% declines over the last 10 years.
Duck increases and declines over the past 10 years:
Pintails are up 39%
Eiders are down by 20%, to a new record low
Tufted Ducks are down by 22%
Scaups are down by 73% over 25 years, to a new record low. However, Shovelers continue to strongly increase, with a record high in 2024/25. The 25-year increase of 82% is largely driven by the population in England.
The BBS is a partnership jointly funded by the BTO, RSPB and JNCC, with fieldwork conducted by volunteers.
Similarly, WeBS is a partnership between the BTO, JNCC and RSPB, with surveys carried out by volunteers. The 2024/25 WeBS report documents waterbird counts at 3,435 sites across the UK, surveyed by nearly 4,000 WeBS counters. GSMP is a partnership between the BTO, JNCC and NatureScot, with fieldwork conducted by both volunteer and professional surveyors.
