Record number of British bird species at risk

More than a quarter of the bird species that live or regularly visit the UK are now deemed to be of highest conservation concern. Birds of Conservation Concern 5, published at the end of 2021 by a coalition of conservation charities, including the GWCT, is the latest assessment of British avifauna and is split into Red, Amber and Green categories. The Red List, which is the highest alert, encompasses 70 entries, three more than in its 2015 edition and almost double those of 25 years ago. Once-common species such as house martins, swifts and greenfinches [pictured] have joined the ranks of birds at risk after a sharp decline in numbers, with many more species moving from Green to Amber.

“Britain’s birds face a range of challenges, some of which are unique to certain groups, but can be broadly recognised as availability of food and habitat, and safety from predators,” says the GWCT’S Andrew Hoodless. “While swift and house martin most likely face pressures on their wintering grounds in Africa and from reduced availability of nest sites in the UK, it is notable that they and other birds reliant on insects for food are declining at a time when insect numbers also seem to be falling. Climate change and disease are affecting some species, with greenfinch suffering from a severe outbreak of trichomoniasis since 2005.”

The silver lining is that landowners can help support endangered birds: “It’s important that we recognise the impact those working in the landscape can have, whether it’s overwinter feeding of farmland birds, provision of insectrich habitats, sensitive hedgerow and woodland management, or predator control,” notes Hoodless. “For most species, we know what can work, but we need appropriate packages delivered at a larger scale.”