Decrease in wintering birds

[rlchew]

Did any of you see the BBC TV report yesterday morning regarding the reducing numbers of wintering birds visiting the UK?

The UK is losing its appeal as a winter feeding station for migrating birds with resulting significant declines in at least 8 species of wetland birds. The birds affected are: Greenland White-fronted Goose, European White-fronted Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Pochard, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Turnstone. Yet again, global warming is thought to be responsible.

To be fair though, the report also highlights a doubling of the overall numbers of 39 species of waterfowl spending the winter in the UK in the last 3 decades.

I have been birdwatching for nearly 40 years and compared with even just a few years ago there does appear to be much reduced numbers of some geese, ducks, waders and even birds such as Fieldfare, Redwing, Shorelark, Snow Bunting, etc.

Mind you, why should any bird expend extra energy flying from northern Europe or even from further afield to spend the winter here if the climate further north is no longer as extreme as it once was?

Climate change impacts on UK's wintering birds

Climate fear for visiting birds

New report highlights climate change impact on UK’s wintering birds

Richard

[kshotton45]

Yes I was watching it. It appears that as they now have warmer winters in their own countries, it's not worth the physical effort of flying vast distances to warmer countries such as ours. I suppose you can't blame them. But I think it means we'll be seeing less and less of these traditional visitors.
It's a shame.

Keith.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Haven't we always had such winters though? Conversely, if our climate is going to get warmer on average we should see an expansion of southerly breeding species (habitats permitting) and gain more breeding species from the continent. All those birds we consider to be mediterranean/continental rarities when they visit now could be regular visitors or breeders soon.

Cheers,

Adam