An updated version of this dataset is available at: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/wild_bird_populations_in_england Provides figures for bird populations in the English regions, covering farmland, woodland and all native birds. Source agency: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Designation: National Statistics Language: English Alternative title: Wild bird population indicators for the English Regions

An updated version of this dataset is available at: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/wild_bird_populations_in_england Overall breeding bird populations in England have changed little compared with 40 years ago. In 2010 they were just above what they were in 1970, following a small decline of 1.5 per cent in the most recent five years, from 2004 to 2009. However this masks considerable variation between individual bird species and groups of species that share the same broad habitats.

An updated version of this release is available at: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/wild_bird_populations_in_england

This statistic shows the estimated number of indoor birds kept as pets in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010/11 to 2021/22. The population of indoor birds in the UK was estimated to total *** million in 2021/22.

UK wild bird populations is now available from here: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/wild_bird_populations

Trends in populations of selected species (wild birds)

UK wild bird populations is now available from here: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/wild_bird_populations

Index of the UK population of wild birds - Individual species indices

UK wild bird populations is now available from here: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/wild_bird_populations

Vulnerability assessment to high pathogenicity avian influenza predicted mortality at the avian family, but not the species, level. To assess the vulnerability of UK birds to high pathogenicity avian influenza pre-2021/2022 and during the exceptional 2021/2022 season. Two trait-based approaches to vulnerability assessment were tested using surveillance data for the number of reported positive avian influenza detections in the UK. Species-level positive detections varied with population size, body size and colour. Although overall vulnerability assessment was not correlated with positive detections at the species level, components of vulnerability most likely to reflect mortality rates were positively correlated with positive detections pre-2021/2022, but not in 2021/2022. Vulnerability assessment scores were strongly correlated with mean positive detections at the family level (but not species level) in both time periods. Consistency in successfully identifying the most vulnerable avian families suggests predictability in vulnerability, even if species mortality rates vary among outbreaks. Waterfowl, seabirds, other waterbirds and raptors were ranked as most vulnerable. Components of vulnerability most linked to mortality may not be associated with aspects of vulnerability most linked to conservation impact.

1. Land sparing has been proposed as a strategy to reconcile biodiversity conservation with agricultural production, with empirical studies on five continents indicating that most species would benefit if food demand was met through high-yield farming combined with the protection or restoration of natural habitat. 2. Most such studies come from landscapes covered by large areas of natural habitat and without a long history of intense human modification. However, much of Europe, consists of human-dominated landscapes, where biodiversity responses to land sparing may differ. To test this, we use estimates of bird population density in different (semi-)natural habitats, and forecasts of population density in farmland habitat, to assess the future consequences for birds of land-sparing scenarios in the United Kingdom. 3. Our scenarios predict that whilst up to 18 of the 156 species assessed (predominantly farmland associated species) might decline in UK conservation status under land sparing, up to 35 UK bird species (mainly woodland and wetland species) might improve in status. This contrasts with a maximum of 8 species likely to improve in conservation status without land sparing, with up to 7 species deteriorating. 4. Combining land sparing with demand management measures (reducing food waste and the consumption of animal products) led to more positive population changes under all scenarios. 5. Synthesis and applications. Land sparing has the potential to benefit UK bird populations in aggregate but would likely have negative impacts on farmland bird species. These findings are likely to be applicable across human-dominated landscapes beyond the UK, though effects on other taxa, implementation mechanisms, and the sustainability of higher yields all require careful consideration.

UK wild bird populations is now available from here: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/wild_bird_populations

population of wild birds - wintering waterbirds: 1975/76 to 2007/08.

COVID-19 restrictions significantly biased BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey coverage across the UK allowing indicative trends to be produced for approximately one-third of species in England only. To investigate the effect that COVID-19 restrictions had on participation in and coverage of the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), and to quantify the likely impacts on population change reporting based on 2020 data. We determined geographic, seasonal, and habitat coverage for the BBS in 2020 and compared this to previous years, and quantified the scale of biases and reductions in sample size for target species. We degraded existing BBS data (1994–2019) to simulate 2020 coverage and produced population change estimates using three methods applied to the complete and degraded data to assess the impacts of 2020 coverage on emergent trends. In 2020, 49% fewer survey squares were visited compared to 2019. Reductions were greatest in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and in the early breeding season, when 90% fewer visits were made. The few early visits completed were on atypical dates and showed marked habitat biases. Individual species were detected in 23–96% fewer squares than normal. Population change estimates derived using routine trend models were negatively biased in up to 96% of species, with errors greatest for species normally detected on early visits. Alternative trend models using visit-specific parameterization or focussing only on late season visits overcame coverage biases for some species. Lockdown restrictions associated with the COVID-19 outbreak meant it was not possible to produce population trend information for UK, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland in 2020. Indicative long-term trends could be produced in England only for a subset of about 40 species. We recommend managers of citizen science schemes undertake similar analyses to assess the scale of coverage biases when unforeseen events cause temporary, but substantial changes, in sampling effort.

Life history characteristics, harvest data, population trends and conservation statuses of huntable waterbirds in the UK. Wintering bird populations for the UK were obtained from the latest published estimates (Frost et al. 2019). The estimate for mallard was increased by 2.6 million birds to account for the annual release of captive-raised birds for shooting purposes (Madden 2021). We estimated a standard deviation for the population estimates by averaging the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS; Frost et al. 2021) index for each species for the winters 2012/13 – 2016/17, which corresponded to the period used to estimate duck populations. We treated this mean index as equal to the estimate from Frost et al. (2019) and then calculated population estimates for each year based on their WeBS indices and calculated the standard deviation of these estimates. Population estimates for greylag goose, pink-footed goose, golden plover, snipe and woodcock were based on single years, but the same time frame was applied to standard deviation estimates in order to account for any interannual differences. The latest (2016) harvest estimates and 95% confidence intervals were taken from Aebischer (2019). Species specific body mass was taken from Robinson (2005). Where sex-specific body mass was reported we averaged male and female masses. Methods We modelled the resident and migratory populations of greylag geese and woodcock separately. The resident woodcock population was estimated as three times the number of breeding males. This was subtracted from the total estimated overwintering woodcock population to provide an estimate of the migratory woodcock population. Resident woodcock harvest was estimated as equal to the proportion of breeding birds in the overwinter population (13%) The remaining 87% of total harvest was assigned to migratory woodcock. We recognise that further mortality of UK breeding woodcock will occur outside the UK in southern Europe, but we have no estimate of this mortality and can only consider the contribution of UK hunters to the harvest of birds that winter in the UK in this initial assessment. Population estimates for Icelandic and British greylag geese overwintering in the UK are reported separately and no adjustment is needed. An estimated harvest of migratory Icelandic greylag geese in the UK (Frederiksen 2002) was deducted from the total UK greylag goose harvest to provide an estimate of the harvest of British greylag geese. However, it should be noted that the estimate was from 1996-2000 and no new estimates have been made. Short-term (2008-2018) and long-term (1970-2018) wintering population trends were taken from Burns et al. (2020), except for common snipe and Eurasian woodcock. Common snipe trends were taken from Woodward et al. (2020), with caution advised due to the small sample size. Resident woodcock long-term and short-term population trends were estimated at -29% for both on the basis of reported declines in breeding woodcock (Balmer et al. 2013; Heward et al. 2015). Migratory woodcock short-term and long-term trends were estimated at -11% and -22% on the basis of a 4-18% decline from 2008-2018 and an 11-33% decline from 1980-2018 (BirdLife International 2021). Bird population status in the UK (Red/Amber/Green) was taken from Birds of Conservation Concern 5 (BoCC5; Stanbury et al. 2021). Estimates of adult survival were taken from Robinson (2005) with reported standard errors multiplied by 1.96 to give an approximate 95% confidence interval. The average standard error for all reported waterbirds (0.03) was used for species when no standard error was reported (e.g. wigeon, shoveler, greylag goose, woodcock and golden plover). We used the same survival estimates for both resident and migratory populations of woodcock and greylag geese. These adult survival estimates include mortality from hunting and so are likely to underestimate the maximum achievable survival rates under optimal conditions and so survival was also estimated using species mass. Age at first reproduction (alpha) was also taken from Robinson (2005).

Threats to biodiversity resulting from habitat destruction and deterioration have been documented for many species, whilst climate change is regarded as increasingly impacting upon species' distribution and abundance. However, few studies have disentangled the relative importance of these two drivers in causing recent population declines. We quantify the relative importance of both processes by modelling annual variation in population growth of 18 farmland bird species in the UK as a function of measures of land-use intensity and weather. Modelled together, both had similar explanatory power in accounting for annual fluctuations in population growth. When these models were used to retrodict population trends for each species as a function of annual variation in land-use intensity and weather combined, and separately, retrodictions incorporating land-use intensity were more closely linked to observed population trends than retrodictions based only on weather, and closely matched the UK farmland bird index from 1970 onwards. Despite more stable land-use intensity in recent years, climate change (inferred from weather trends) has not overtaken land-use intensity as the dominant driver of bird populations.

The estimated number of ornamental birds owned by households in the United Kingdom has fluctuated each year since 2010. As of 2023, the number of ornamental birds stood at about *** million, the same as the previous year.

Bird populations are declining globally with losses recorded in many European breeding birds. Habitat management measures have not resulted in a widespread reversal of these declines. We analysed national bird population trends from ten European countries (France, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK) in relation to the species’ nesting strategy (‘ground-nesting' or ‘other’), Annex I designation (‘designated’ or ‘not designated’) and association with agricultural habitats for breeding (‘associated’ or ‘not associated’). For each country in our dataset, we also defined the following factors: farming intensity; predator community complexity; and predator control effort. Our results showed additive effects of nesting strategy, designation, and breeding habitats on the likelihood of population decline. Ground-nesting birds were 86% more likely to decline than birds with other nesting strategies. Annex I designated species of the Birds Directive were 50% less likely to decline than non-designated birds. Birds breeding primarily in agricultural habitats were more likely to decline than birds breeding in other habitats, interactively with farming intensity. Homogenous trends across Europe (i.e., trends in two or more countries that were either not declining in all countries or declining in all countries) indicate that the probability of population decline was related to nesting strategy and breeding habitat, with ground-nesting birds being 15.6 times more likely than other birds to have a declining trend across Europe, and birds nesting in agricultural habitat being 17.8 times more likely than birds nesting in other habitats to have a declining trend across Europe. Our results highlight a widespread challenge, therefore widespread instruments (e.g. legislation, economic policies, agri-environment schemes) will be required to reserve these declines. Ground-nesting species requirements can be complex and multiple strategies will be needed to restore populations including the development of predation management tools. Methods Many countries provide data to the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (PECBMS). We explored the PECBMS web page and the links included therein for each country, to identify if national data on population trends for each species could be obtained. Finally, we obtained national trends data for 10 countries, namely France (FR), Hungary (HU), Ireland (IE), the Netherlands (NL), Poland (PL), Portugal (PT), Spain (ES), Sweden (SE), Switzerland (CH) and the UK (UK). Specifically, common bird species trends in France were obtained from the monitoring programs coordinated by the Natural History Museum (http://www.vigienature.fr/fr/resultats-especes-3367). These data provided a 20-year trend (1998-2018) for each species. Hungary data from the Monitoring Centre of the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Association were available at https://mmm.mme.hu/charts/trends and provided species trends for the period 1999-2021. Data from Ireland were available at https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/IWM115.pdf and provided trends for 1998-2016 for each species. Netherlands data were obtained from the monitoring programs carried out by SOVON, the Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology (https://www.vogelwarte.ch/assets/files/publications/upload2019/Zustand%20der%20Vogelwelt%20in%20der%20Schweiz_Bericht%202019_E_low.pdf). These data provided species trends from 1990 to 2016. Polish data were obtained from https://monitoringptakow.gios.gov.pl/database.html, and provided trends for each species for the period 2000-2019. Portuguese data (based on the program organised by the Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves, SPEA) were obtained from https://www.spea.pt/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/relatorio_cac_2021_vf3.pdf, as long-term (2004-2020) trends for each species. Data from Spain were obtained from the monitoring programs conducted by SEO/Birdlife (https://seo.org/boletin/seguimiento/boletin/2018/html5forpc.html?page=0), consisting of long-term trends (1998-2018) for each species. Data from Sweden, showing 1998-2022 trends for each species, were obtained from http://www.fageltaxering.lu.se/resultat/trender. Swiss data were obtained from the monitoring programs carried out by Vogelwarte, the Swiss Ornithological Institute (https://www.vogelwarte.ch/assets/files/projekte/entwicklung/zustandsbericht%202019/Zustandsbericht%202019_e_low.pdf) and consisted of 1990-2018 trends for each species. The UK data were obtained through monitoring programs at the British Trust of Ornithology (https://www.bto.org/our-science/publications/birdtrends/2020/species), providing long-term (1994-2020) trends for each species. In all cases, trends for each species were categorised according to European Bird Census Council (EBCC) definitions (see https://pecbms.info/methods/pecbms-methods/1-national-species-indices-and-trends/1-2-production-of-national-indices-and-trends/trend-interpretation-and-classification) as ‘important decline’, ‘moderate decline’, ‘stable’, ‘moderate increase’, ‘marked increase’ or ‘uncertain. We regrouped the categories as ‘decline’ (either important or moderate) or ‘no decline’, (stability, moderate or important increase, or uncertain trends) to obtain a binomial variable describing the decline probability of a given species in each country.

This spreadsheet is the underlying data for the biodiversity indicator C5, Birds of the wider countryside and at sea.

Bird populations have long been considered to provide a good indication of the broad state of wildlife. Birds occupy a wide range of habitats and there are considerable long-term data on changes in bird populations, which help in the interpretation of shorter-term fluctuations in numbers. As they are a well-studied taxonomic group, drivers of change for birds are better understood than for other species groups, which allows for better interpretation of any observed changes. Birds also have huge cultural importance and are highly valued as a part of the UK’s natural environment by the general public.

The indicator shows changes in the breeding population sizes of common native birds of farmland and woodland and of freshwater and marine habitats in the UK.

The indices show the year-to-year fluctuation in populations, reflecting the observed changes in the survey results, and smoothed trends, which are used with their confidence intervals to formally assess the statistical significance of change over time. Smoothed trends reduce short-term peaks and troughs resulting from, for example, year-to-year weather and sampling variations.

This is one of a suite of 24 UK biodiversity indicators published by JNCC on behalf of Defra; the latest publication date was 19 January 2016 - for indicator C5 the latest data are for 2014. The supporting technical document details the methodology used to create the indicator.

UK wild bird populations is now available from here: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/wild_bird_populations A yearly update on national wild bird indicators.

Source agency: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Designation: National Statistics Language: English Alternative title: Wild bird national indicators