Kestrel decline in numbers?

[Emma S]

Has anyone else noticed far fewer kestrels this year compared to last year? Our local kestrel that used to hunt the fields behind by garden has disappeared, and I seem to see far fewer round and about.

I know that there has been a statistical decline in kestrel numbers for quite a few years, but it seems that there is a noticeable difference since last year....or is it just me?

I wondered if they had been adversely affected by the bad winter which may have reduced small mammal numbers.

[Littlesparrow]

where in the country are you, we don't tend to get them much in Sandbach but I'm about to go traveling up and down the motorway so i will look out for any hovering over the fields.

[aeshna5]

Kestrels have been in long term decline for some years now + the recent BTO News reported quite a steep drop between 2008-9; this possibly due to the severe winter weather, though the long term partly related to changes in farming practice + other environmental changes.

Sparrowhawk also dropped by c18% between the 2 years from BBS surveys. By contrast Hobby, Red Kite + Buzzard all showed healthy increases.

[Dogghound]

Also worth noting that kestrel populations fluctuate with small mammal populations they tend to be quite cyclic. Ive not noticed a large decline, although the birds local to my house have not used the field as much this could be due to small mammal numbers declining here forcing it to hunt wider.

[DavyG]

The resident pair, at my workplace, raised five chicks this year and all fledged successfully.



I'm lucky to work in rural Suffolk and see Kestrels regularly, maybe it depends on where you're based.

Dave

[Emma S]

I'm in West Yorkshire, in the Calderdale pennines.

Thinking about it, we had a hard winter hereabouts (though perhaps no harder than many other areas) and that might have affected small mammal populations locally, thus kestrel numbers around here.

Good to hear of your sightings from other areas.

[Sledge]

Before anyone starts blaming farmers, the only adverse 'change in farming practice' as referred to above in recent years has been the abolition of set aside, which was an EU measure. Otherwise conditions for birds on farmland are improving.

Could competition have any bearing? There seems to be a lot more buzzards around now, do they have common food sources?

[Dogghound]

Lack of rough grassland and other suitable habitat and the use of organochlorine pesticides are the reasons for their decline. Buzzards and kestrels occupy different nieches they both eat small mammals however buzzards are much more generalistic and dont compete for territories with kestrel so its unlikely that they would cause decline.

[Sledge]

OC pesticide use has fallen recently (dramatically since the 60s and early 70s, then a small peak in the mid-late 90s which has also declined now) and rough grassland has been at a low level for decades, not aware of any recent changes. Therefore if the decline in kestrel numbers is a long term thing I would appreciate it, but a more recent thing within then last, say, ten years is difficult to make the association.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Sledge

OC pesticide use has fallen recently (dramatically since the 60s and early 70s, then a small peak in the mid-late 90s which has also declined now) and rough grassland has been at a low level for decades, not aware of any recent changes. Therefore if the decline in kestrel numbers is a long term thing I would appreciate it, but a more recent thing within then last, say, ten years is difficult to make the association.

Im not aware of any significant decline in the last ten years? The population seems to be increasing breeding success also seems to be getting better. You may get the odd local decline in numbers after a hard winter etc. The overall suppressed number of kestrel is due to past use of organochlorine pesticides and to some extent second generation anticoagulant rodenticides as well as habitat loss. Aldrin and dieldrin contamination had a huge affect on several raptor species, they not only killed birds but reduced breeding success. The removal of hedgerows and mature trees for nesting as well as a large decline of farmland birds such as starling(which also make up their diet other than rodents) will also have caused declines. The population is slowly recovering.