There are fewer birds in Wales than a decade ago

There are fewer birds in Wales than a decade ago. The Wetland Bird Survey shows that around half our wintering waterbirds have declined over the last 10 years, including familiar species such as Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) , Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) and Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus).

The survey, undertaken by hundreds of volunteers each month, also found populations of six wading birds are lower on Wales’ coasts than at the start of the decade, including Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula), Sanderling (Calidris alba) and Curlew (Numenius arquata).

The Breeding Bird Survey , also undertaken by expert volunteers each spring and summer, reveals that of the 60 commonest breeding species in Wales, 31 have declined during the last 10 years.

Curlew is sadly on this list, along with Swift (Apus apus) and Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Rook (Corvus frugilegus), Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) and Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe).

Breeding Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus), Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) and Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) are also rarer than they used to be, so much that they are now too scarce to register on the annual survey.

Source: North Wales Live, 30 Dec 2019
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/birds-wales-2010s-decade-no…