40 British bird species at risk of extinction
By Michael McCarthy
Monday, 4 October 2010 Forty British wild bird species need special protection to help them survive, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) says today. They range from the once-familiar house sparrows of Central London to the enigmatic and mournful-sounding black-throated divers of the lochs of the Scottish Flow Country, and are struggling to maintain their previous population levels. Ten species including such avian icons as the cuckoo and the kestrel – down 61 per cent in the last 25 years – are declining apparently without cause. The RSPB says more research is needed to determine why. For another 12 species, including the house sparrow, the lapwing and the turtle dove, the reasons are more or less known, and possible solutions to help reverse declines need to be tested. For the remaining 18 species, including the bittern, the red kite and the skylark, populations are in recovery but remain fragile, and require further monitoring to ensure they do not fall again. … “We work with government, organisations and individuals,” said Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s Conservation Director. “In hard times, we need to prioritise by working with those birds that most need the nation’s help. Today we’re calling on politicians, business leaders and charities to save these priority species for future generations to enjoy.” He added: “Throughout history, birds like the cuckoo, house sparrow, skylark, turtle dove and the swift have been a part of our countryside. Now that more birds are sinking towards oblivion they need us more than ever. We want to ensure that birds have a strong future as well as a strong past.” There are many diverse reasons why Britain’s birds are struggling, including changes in farming practice, a lack of woodland management, drainage of wetlands; habitat destruction, climate change, development, and a reduction in the number of insects in urban areas. …
