Birds

• The population of all native birds, including farmland and woodland species, in the South West showed no significant change between 1994 and 2007, similar to the national index. 

• The indices for 14 of the 31 individual woodland bird species included in the index increased by 10 per cent or more, while indices for 12 species decreased by 10 per cent or more. Siskin and Great Spotted Woodpecker saw increases of more than 100 per cent in their population indices. The population index for Willow Tit, Nightingale, Wood Warbler and Tree Pipit decreased by 50 per cent.

• The Buzzard saw a 6-fold increase in the population index.

• Long term trends show that farmland bird populations declined by 45% in the South West between 1970 and 1994

• Between 1994 and 2007, the South West population index for farmland birds decreased by 14 per cent.

• During the same period, the indices also decreased for all native bird species and woodland birds by 2 per cent and 7 per cent respectively.

• Long term trends show that woodland birds declined by 32% between 1970 and 1994, faster than the national average of 15%.

Birds are considered to be a good indicator of the broad state of wildlife and countryside because they inhabit a wide range of habitats and tend to be near the top of the food chain.

The UK index of wild bird populations is one of the Government’s 68 sustainable development indicators in the UK.  This indicator looks in detail at:

• The overall population of British breeding birds
• Farmland bird population
• Woodland bird population

1970 is taken as the base year. However, it should not be assumed that this represents the ideal wild bird population - the index is intended to show how bird populations have been changing over time. For example, if an index rises to 200 then, on average, populations of species in that indicator have doubled; if it falls to 50 then they have halved on average.

N.B. The RSPB, BTO & Defra, for the purpose of these estimates, define a population index showing significant change is defined as one where the index has increased or decreased by 10% or more over the period.

All wild birds

Key regional results 1994 - 2007:

• In the East Midlands, West Midlands, the South West, South East, and the East of England, the farmland bird population fell by more than 12%. There was no significant change in any of the other English regions. This compares with an overall England decrease of 13% over the same period.
• The largest increase in woodland bird populations between 1994 and 2007 was in the North West, which saw a rise of  42%. There was also an increase of 30% in the Yorkshire and the Humber region, and in the North East with  a 14% rise. There was a decrease of 16% in the South East and 7% per cent in the South West, but little change in the remaining regions. This compares with an overall England decline of 6 per cent over the same period.

Between 1994 and 2007, the population index of all native birds, including farmland and woodland species, decreased by 2% in the South West, which is classed as showing no significant change.  This was equal to the trend experienced in England as a whole. 

The indices for 38 of the 80 individual bird species included in the index increased by 10% or more, while 28 decreased by 10% or more. Buzzard saw a 6-fold increase in the population index.

Farmland birds

Key regional results 1994 - 2007:

• In the East Midlands, West Midlands, the South West, South East, and the East of England, the farmland bird population fell by more than 12%. There was no significant change in any of the other English regions. This compares with an overall England decrease of 13% over the same period.

• In the South West, the population of farmland birds showed significant change, with the index decreasing by 14% between 1994 and 2007, similar to the national index.

The indices for 8 of the 16 individual farmland bird species included in the index increased by 10 per cent or more, while indices for 7 species decreased by 10 per cent or more. The population indices for Grey Partridge, Lapwing and Starling decreased by more than 50 per cent.

Previously published long term trends showed farmland bird populations in the South West declining by 45% between 1970 and 1994, with 10 of the 15 individual species covered by the old index showing falling populations, with a large decline for Grey Partridges. Due to the differences in species composition and methodology, comparisons between the two periods need to be approached with care.

Woodland birds

Key regional results 1994 - 2007:

• The largest increase in woodland bird populations between 1994 and 2007 was in the North West, which saw a rise of  42%. There was also an increase of 30% in the Yorkshire and the Humber region, and in the North East with  a 14% rise. There was a decrease of 16% in the South East and 7% per cent in the South West, but little change in the remaining regions. This compares with an overall England decline of 6 per cent over the same period.
• The indices for 14 of the 31 individual woodland bird species included in the index increased by 10 per cent or more, while indices for 12 species decreased by 10 per cent or more. Siskin and Great Spotted Woodpecker saw increases of more than 100 per cent in their population indices. The population index for Willow Tit, Nightingale, Wood Warbler and Tree Pipit decreased by 50 per cent.

In the South West, the population of woodland birds showed the index decreasing by 7% between 1994 and 2007, broadly in line with the national index.

Previously published long term trends showed woodland birds in the South West generally falling faster that the national average, declining by 32% between 1970 and 1994. Sixteen out of the 26 species covered by the index declined over the period, with a large decline for Tawny Owls. Comparisons between the two periods need to be approached with care, due to differences in methodology and species composition.

• Wild bird indicators for the English regions: 1994 - 2007