Bird numbers are flying up...

by Chris Johnson. Published Fri 23 May 2008 07:20

A new survey shows a North/South divide in number of wild birds living in the UK.

The finding of the report from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs show bird populations in the North West are generally on the increase

But the decline in numbers of both farmland and woodland birds is most marked in South East England, where populations of both groups of birds have plummeted by a fifth since 1994.

In the three regions of northern England, the populations of both groups of birds showed either modest or significant increases.

In the North West region woodland bird populations have increased by 32 percent, the highest increase recorded. Farmland birds have also shown an increase of eight percent.

Dr Peter Robertson, RSPB's Northern England Conservation Manager said: "This is welcome news for the North West, where birds like the tree sparrow have approximately doubled in number.

"We have been working with farmers in the region to try and help tree sparrows so this news is very encouraging."

But some species have declined in northern regions too. Farmland birds like the corn bunting in the region have seen a 50 percent decrease over the same period.

Dr Peter Robertson added: "This steep decline in corn buntings is very depressing and shows there's no room for complacency. We will continue to work with farmers to try and turn the fortunes of all farmland birds around.

"Its just so important for farmers in the North West to continue to undertake positive management for farmland birds through agri-environment schemes, especially with the loss of set aside."

In 2001, the European Union heads of state agreed that wildlife declines should be halted by 2010.

However, population trends between 1994 and 2006 for woodland birds, farmland birds and native birds for each Government office region, show that bird populations on the whole are decreasing rapidly across parts of the UK and the UK government will still face difficulty in meeting its target.

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