A new RSPB and British Trust for Ornithology report looks at the impacts on UK birds and the actions we can take to protect them.
5 min read
Climate change is reshaping bird populations across the UK, with some of our most familiar and vulnerable species under increasing pressure. That’s the latest assessment from the RSPB and British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) Climate Change and UK Birds report, which confirms that it’s driving major shifts for our birds.
This includes where species live, how common they are, and the timing of key life events like breeding and migration. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme weather events are accelerating these changes. As a result, some of the UK’s most vulnerable birds are already declining.
Our report shows that seabirds are among those most severely affected by climate change. Numbers of Puffins and Arctic Terns, for example, are being negatively impacted by warming seas, reduced food supplies and greater exposure to storms.
Existing research shows that without conservation action, in a worst-case scenario of high carbon emission levels, some seabird species could even decline by more than 70% by 2050. These huge losses are likely to be worsened by other pressures too, such as habitat loss and human disturbance.
Upland species, such as Dotterels and Golden Plovers, are also particularly vulnerable to changing habitat conditions. For example, climate change is lowering moisture levels in the soil, reducing numbers of craneflies which are a key food source for these birds. This impacts these already rare species’ breeding success.
Climate change is affecting our birds and wildlife in many ways. However, the Climate Change and UK Birds report identified the following three key areas of impact.
As our climate warms, the ranges of more adaptable species and warm-adapted southern birds are shifting and growing. For some species, like Little Egrets, milder winters and improved breeding conditions have led them to increase rapidly in range and number across the UK.
This might sound positive. However, these changes lead to a loss of diversity as more adaptable birds replace ‘specialist’ species (those adapted to a particular habitat, like the Marsh Tit).
Climate change is also contributing to regional declines of once widespread species like the Willow Warbler. According to the Breeding Bird Survey, unsuitable conditions have led to numbers plummeting in southern England, while populations have soared in Scotland, where the climate is cooler.
Finally, temperature rises are also altering the winter distribution of waterbirds, and many species’ ranges are moving north and east. This is contributing to declines in the UK for birds such as Bewick’s Swans and Goldeneye ducks.
Some species such as Pied Flycatchers which migrate to the UK, and others that stay in the UK year-round like Blue Tits, time their breeding to coincide with peak food availability.
Both species aim to hatch their chicks to match the emergence of spring caterpillars, an event driven by the weather. Yet, unpredictable weather patterns and earlier springs mean that these timings are increasingly out of sync.
While resident species like Blue Tits can adapt to breed in time with local conditions, it’s bad news for Pied Flycatchers. These birds use day length, not temperature, to time their migration back to the UK. This means they struggle to adapt and arrive for the earlier caterpillar emergence.
Evidence also suggests that reduced overwinter survival can affect population trends. Therefore, conservation action should focus on factors away from breeding grounds too, especially for the benefit of migratory species.
Designated sites, such as Special Protection Areas (SPAs), continue to play a vital role for our birds in a changing climate. They provide the chance for newly colonising species to rest and feed. They support resident and migratory species, and they are a focal point for conservation action.
However, many of our protected areas were established based on the historical distribution of species. Now, the shifts caused by climate change mean our approach to these sites needs to be more flexible to ensure the protected area network remains as beneficial as possible.
Climate change is already affecting the UK and has the potential to cause unprecedented impacts to birds and nature more widely. However, we know the solutions. When we help look after nature, nature can help to build our resilience to climate change. We need coordinated and urgent action from governments that gives nature a central role to help us adapt.”
The Climate Change and UK Birds report highlights the profound impacts that climate change is having on our birds and the wider natural world. However, there are steps we can take to reduce its impact and secure a brighter future for all.
This report highlights how important it is to understand the impacts of climate change on nature. This is only possible with long-term monitoring. Our citizen science schemes, supported through a partnership of BTO, RSPB and JNCC, enable us to do this at scale and provide a great opportunity for birdwatchers to contribute to this evidence.”
This news story provides an overview of the Climate Change and UK Birds report’s findings. Read the report in full to find out what the latest science reveals and what we all need to do to secure a brighter future for our birds.
