Study Finds Bird Numbers Falling

"The number of birds in Wales continues to decline with two species, curlews and golden plovers, seeing an 80% drop in population, RSPB Cymru has said.

The charity is also concerned for birds which breed on four estuaries, including the Severn and the Dee.

But its annual survey found some good news, with the near-threatened Dartford warbler having 72 pairs in Wales.

And the seabirds kittiwakes, fulmars and guillemots are doing better in Wales than in other parts of the UK.

A study suggests populations of some breeding birds on farmed habitats, such as curlews, starlings and yellowhammers, are continuing to decline unabated.

It found curlews had declined by 81% throughout their range in Wales, down to some 1,099 breeding pairs, between 1993 and 2006 and golden plovers by 88% between 1982 and 2007.

Katie-Jo Luxton, Head of Conservation Policy at RSPB Cymru, said: "Some of Wales' important bird species are now so scarce they cannot be monitored by annual schemes.

"This dramatically shows that we don't have much time left to act if we are to save these special birds in Wales."

Dr Siân Whitehead, Senior Ornithologist for the Countryside Council for Wales, said: "Climate change is already impacting our bird life in Wales - causing changes in habitats and loss of food supplies for some species, while others, such as the Dartford warbler, are already benefiting.""

ORIGINAL SOURCE: BBC NEWS