Common UK birds disappearing

[treesparrow]

Headlines -

Common birds in decline as rare species make comeback

Common British birds such as nightingales, starlings and cuckoos are declining faster than their rare counterparts, an RSPB report has shown.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/6446135/Common-birds-in-decline-as-rare-species-make-comeback.html

 

[Voyageur]

Thanks for the link Treesparrow – noted Sparrows were amongst the species in decline; 4 in 10 is odd while increases in other species that were in decline.

The article did not make mention really about why this is; one can surmise habituate encroachment, temperature, magnetism, pesticides, although I thought the use in Europe was a lot less than N America? Is the increase in raptor species impacting sparrows and such? Also, what about Bee's, is there a correlation?

Regards

 

[treesparrow]

There seems to a bit of regional variation as regards house sparrow population trends in the UK. In Wales, for instance, the population appears stable, whereas, in many cities in England the population has fallen. Some years ago I was visiting a suburb of London and was amazed by the total absence of sparrow there. This may have been the the result of increased air pollution affecting invertebrate prey. Although they are seed eaters, during the breeding season (in which they can have upto 3 broods) the adults feed their young insects and any lack of this prey would have had, no doubt, adverse effects on their breeding success.

What I also noted in the London suburbs was that many gardens had been concreted over to make room for 2 or 3 cars. This would have resulted in less 'green' areas available in which to feed.

I'm not sure the increase in the particular raptor species mentioned has any significant effect on songbirds. For instance red kites generally scavenge
for food and goshawks take mainly squirrels, crows and wood pigeons.

Some of the reasons usually mentioned as probable causes for the decline in seed-eating songbirds (sparrows,skylark and buntings)
are - no over-winter stuble and weedy fields, no split grain due to more efficient harvesting and the disappearence of hedgerows and untidy marginal land.

 

[Voyageur]

Thank you treesparrow, I can see why what you said about disappearing gardens would have an effect on food source for young.

There are no sparrows in my area, although many species such as Rennes, Chickadees, Blue Jays, Palliated Woodpeckers, Ospreys and Hawks, Eagles and many others. I keep care to note what the local bird counts are and they seem ok for now.

My sister has many Sparrows around her place in San Francisco and she says of them that some stay year round but most leave in April. She says they practice flocking, hundreds of them, zooming around for a time before they all disappear until October/November.

You said;

Some of the reasons usually mentioned as probable causes for the decline in seed-eating songbirds (sparrows, skylark and buntings) are - no over-winter stubble and weedy fields, no split grain due to more efficient harvesting and the disappearance of hedgerows and untidy marginal land.

Sounds like urbanization too, efficient agricultural practices have so many downsides but unfortunately profitability rules with little consideration to anything else; what of the hedgerows, is this linked to urbanization, drought etc, or is this too just a result of efficiencies?

 

[treesparrow]

You said;

Some of the reasons usually mentioned as probable causes for the decline in seed-eating songbirds (sparrows, skylark and buntings) are - no over-winter stubble and weedy fields, no split grain due to more efficient harvesting and the disappearance of hedgerows and untidy marginal land.

Sounds like urbanization too, efficient agricultural practices have so many downsides but unfortunately profitability rules with little consideration to anything else; what of the hedgerows, is this linked to urbanization, drought etc, or is this too just a result of efficiencies?

Yes, the disappearance of hedgerows is mainly a result of agricultural efficiencies.

BTW I thought I'd check the lastest figures for house sparrow population trends. Rather being stable in Wales (as I stated earlier) it has increased 107% over the period 1994 -2006 according to the latest breeding bird survey. But the decline in the UK as a whole over a longer period (1970-2007) showed a 60% drop ( while the closely related tree sparrow declined by a massive 93%).

Are they Pilliated Woodpeckers in the pic?

 

[Voyageur]

BTW I thought I'd check the lastest figures for house sparrow population trends. Rather being stable in Wales (as I stated earlier) it has increased 107% over the period 1994 -2006 according to the latest breeding bird survey. But the decline in the UK as a whole over a longer period (1970-2007) showed a 60% drop ( while the closely related tree sparrow declined by a massive 93%).

Disheartening declines indeed. :( Thanks for the population trends.

Yes, Pilliated Woodpeckers. One of the mating pair of these lives near and visit every day; so look forward to this daily visit.