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Tuesday April 22nd 2008

Migrating birds in decline

Each spring, an estimated five billion birds come to Europe to breed, before returning to Africa in the autumn. The journey, which has always been regarded as a tremendous feat, covers thousands of miles across oceans and deserts. However, recent research undertaken by the RSPB has indicated that numbers of these migrating species are in considerable decline. Sightings of migrating birds such as the spotted flycatcher, which traditionally appears in Britain during spring, have gradually become less common.

The reasons for the dwindling populations are unknown and are likely to reflect a number of different factors, including loss of suitable habitat in Africa and climate change. These worrying findings are due to be discussed by ornithologists from all over Europe at a meeting in Germany next month.

Some of the spring visitors to the UK that are undergoing alarming declines include:

After spending winter in South Africa, the spotted flycatcher reaches the UK in mid-May. Unfortunately, numbers of this insectivorous bird have been declining since the 1960s.

An excellent mimic, the marsh warbler incorporates the songs of 31 European and 45 African bird species into its impressive repertoire.

Changes in agricultural practices resulted in massive declines in turtle dove populations following the Second World War. Today, major threats include being shot in large numbers on its wintering grounds and during migration.

Named for its striking plumage, the pied flycatcher’s breeding range extends across most of Europe and into Russia. Winter is spent in the warmer climes of southern Europe and West Africa.

A well-known harbinger of spring in the UK, the sneaky cuckoo lays its eggs in another bird’s nest, leaving the unsuspecting host bird to incubate and feed the cuckoo chick.