Press Releases - Jan/Feb 2006 - Item 3

No. 2006/01/03
January 2006 - Embargo: 00:01 Monday 16 January

WETLAND BIRD DECLINES:
Is climate change to blame?

Waterbird counts [that have been conducted for over 50 years] reveal falling numbers of some of the internationally important bird species in the UK, in the period 2001 to 2004, according to newly published reports produced by the British Trust for Ornithology and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.

Three thousand birdwatchers will be donning warm clothes this weekend to take part in the first Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) count of the year. Is it still going to be difficult to find good numbers of Shelduck? Are Grey Plover numbers still going down? Will it be another record count for Little Egrets?

Each WeBS counter has his or her own patch – perhaps the shore of an estuary to walk along or an inland lake. By counting the birds on their patches, once per month throughout the winter, WeBS volunteers are helping to monitor these important habitats by tracking the status of the waterbirds they support, many of which spend the summer nesting in Arctic regions, vulnerable to the effects of climate change. (FOR PHOTO/FILM OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE SEE NOTES FOR EDITORS.)

The UK’s wetlands are home to up to ten million wildfowl, waders and gulls during the winter, and a large proportion of this total is found on estuaries. For example, the Wash (between Lincolnshire and Norfolk) can support a staggering 350,000 waterbirds at peak times, with totals of over 100,000 birds also regularly recorded from Morecambe Bay, Ribble Estuary, North Norfolk Coast, Humber Estuary, Thames Estuary, Dee Estuary, Solway Firth and Mersey Estuary, all of these being estuarine sites.

Our relatively warm winter conditions (compared to the European mainland at least), largely attributable to the Gulf Stream, should be ideal for these Arctic and sub-Arctic breeding birds but there are now signs that all is not well for a range of geese, ducks and wading birds. For species such as the Grey Plover and Dark-bellied Brent Goose, whose populations peaked in the early 1990s after long periods of increase, numbers are now declining steadily. (see Notes for Editors)

It is not all bad news, however, with numbers of Little Egrets, Pink-footed Geese, Gadwall and Black-tailed Godwit all reaching record levels. (see Notes for Editors)

Andy Musgrove, of the BTO, who is the Wetland Bird Survey National Coordinator said:
“Different species are changing in numbers in the UK for a great variety of reasons but one possibility is redistribution due to climate change. As we see a trend towards milder winters, many species are able to spend the winter closer to their breeding grounds, and thus a decreasing proportion of their populations finds it necessary to migrate as far as the UK. Even within the UK, we are seeing a shift in wintering distribution away from the milder south and west towards areas further north and east. These findings have only been possible due to the time devoted to WeBS by thousands of volunteers across the length and breadth of the UK.”

Peter Cranswick of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust said:
"The wealth of information provided by WeBS for over 50 years is invaluable for conservation of waterbirds and wetlands. Only in the last five years, however, have we become aware of the considerable importance of UK nearshore marine waters - particularly for Common Scoter and Red-throated Divers. A programme of aerial surveys is now providing complementary information to that from volunteers, to help conserve these species and marine sites. Wildfowl & Wader Counts draws together all of these survey data into a one-stop-shop for numbers and distribution of non-breeding waterbirds in the UK."

Rowena Langston, who represents RSPB on the WeBS steering group said:
“The UK is host to waders from many parts of the globe, and protecting these birds and sites of importance for them is a duty that could not be adequately undertaken without WeBS and the dedication of its volunteers. WeBS data play an important role in informing decisions on major developments affecting sensitive sites, for example recent port expansion proposals for Dibden Bay on Southampton Water and London Gateway on the Thames.”

Helen Baker, JNCC, said:
“The UK’s estuaries are hot-spots for conservation and many are protected because of the important populations of birds that they attract. The results from the Wetland Bird Survey are crucial for helping us to manage our wetlands for their birds and the publication of them in the annual report gives easy access to conservation practitioners. WeBS indices and site-by-site results give us early indications of declines and this helps us to identify priority research and inform policies for waterbird conservation.”

Notes for Editors

1. The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) is funded by a partnership of the British Trust for Ornithology, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (on behalf of Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales, and also on behalf of the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland). The daily running of WeBS is administered by the British Trust for Ornithology.

2. The Wetland Bird Survey monitors the UK's waterbirds, and is entirely dependent upon the efforts of thousands of dedicated volunteers. To find out how to take part or to find more details about the scheme, visit www.bto.org/survey/webs/index.htm or e-mail

3. Declining species

• Both European and Greenland White-fronted Geese are declining.
• Dark-bellied Brent Goose, which breeds in Siberia, reached a 20-year low point.
• Shelduck numbers in Britain fell to their lowest levels since the late 1970s.
• Mallard continued their long-term slow decline to a new record low.
• Pochard and Tufted Duck have crashed in Northern Ireland, at Loughs Neagh & Beg - the key site for these species.
• The "rocky shore waders" - Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone – are all in decline.
• The Grey Plover, another Siberian nesting species, fell to its lowest level for 15 years.

4. Increasing species

• Little Grebe continued to increase, with over 5,000 counted in October 2003 in Britain.
• Cormorant reached a new peak British count of over 18,000 in October 2003.
• Little Egrets continued their major increase, with 2,777 counted in September 2003, perhaps corresponding to an actual British population in excess of 4,000 birds.
• Pink-footed Geese reached new heights with a maximum count of 274,000 birds including a single roost site at Scolt Head, Norfolk, holding 80,000 geese.
• Gadwall achieved record wintering numbers, with over 16,500 counted in December 2003.
• Black-tailed Godwit reached new heights, with nearly 30,000 birds making their way from Icelandic breeding grounds to winter in Britain.

5. Images to accompany articles can be obtained from

6. Radio Interviews. The BTO has a dedicated line available for radio interviews.

7. Photographic and filming opportunities. If possible, we can try to arrange photo/filming opportunities with local counters on Sunday 15 January. Please contact Steve Holloway (BTO) on 01842 750050.

For further information please contact:
Andy Musgrove (BTO) on 01842 750050 during office hours
Graham Appleton (BTO) on 01842 750050 or e-mail: during office hours
Out of office hours, please telephone: 07974 668503 (mobile) or 01603 758276 (home)

Sarah Gill (WWT). Tel: 01453 891144 or 07920 151022, or e-mail:
Grahame Madge, RSPB press officer, on 01767 681577.
Out of hours, please telephone: 07702 196902 (mobile) or 01234 870627 (home)
Communications Team (JNCC) on 01733 562626 or e-mail: during office hours

Back to Index of 2006 Press Releases

Next 2006 Press Release