Conservation action for rare breeding UK birds are proving to be a great success according to The State of UKs’ Birds report, published by the RSPB (Royal Soceity for the Protection of Birds) as it celebrates its tenth birthday providing an overview of native breeding birds. It reveals that conservation efforts for rare birds like the Osprey is not in vain but indicates that the common birds are not doing as well. “Research shows that almost 60 per cent of the 63 rare birds that breed in the UK have increased over the last ten years compared with only just over one third of common species” reports the RSPB. Whilst some threatened species have been removed from the red list, the more widespread species like the the Kestrel, Skylark, Willow Warbler and Grey Partridge continue to decline.

The mollosc eating sea duck Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) is anything but common. It is the UKs’ most endangered duck. A Red List species, its’ winter populations around the North Norfolk coast, Carmarthen and Cardigan Bays and along the Moray Firth can be effected by oil spills and although there is a BAP (Biodiveristy Action Plan) for them in place, they “still need significant conservation action if we are going to pull them back from the brink” said Dr Baz Hughes of Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.

Green farming schemes like the Environmental Stewardship is vital to continuing conservation action. Farmers and land owners in England receive funding to deliver effective environmental management to protect natural resources which make a huge positive impact on wildlife. By looking after their habitats and reducing floods helping the natural environment adapt to climate change. At the beginning of this year, over six million hectares of land was covered under this scheme which equates to nearly two thirds of Englands’ agricultural land.

What is uncertain is what direct impact this had made this year, on the rare and common birds of the UK as surveys for this year will not be published until 2010. What is certain is that “By working closely with farmers and other land managers we need to ensure that these benefits are spread into the wider countryside where more common birds continue to suffer from declines.” added Tom Tew, Chief Scientist for Natural England.

Read the RSPB webpage here.