Natural History Wanderings

The British Trust for Ornithology reports 2014 was another poor year in terms of the number of birds returning to the UK to breed.

The abundance of long-distance migrants, species that winter south of the Sahara, was generally lower than average over the previous five years, and this drop in numbers was statistically significant for four of the six species monitored (Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and Reed Warbler, , with fewer Willow and Sedge Warblers captured than in any year since CES began in 1983.

Robin and Wren numbers in 2014 were significantly higher than the five-year average  as were Wren survival rates.

Read report including chart on abundance of Migrant Warblers, Other Residents and Resident Tits Preliminary report on the 2014 breeding season | BTO – British Trust for Ornithology.