Ground-nesting bird populations declining faster than any other bird species in Europe
Curlew Warnock/pa Is Neal In The Species Of The Picture: One Threatened Most Wire Ireland
Ground-nesting bird populations, including the common curlew, are declining faster than any other bird species in Europe, a new report has warned.
Researchers from the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science have found ground-nesting birds were 86% more likely to suffer a population decline than birds with other nesting strategies.
The study, published in the journal, highlights current habitat management measures have been ineffective in reversing these widespread declines.
It also found predator control, although unpalatable to many conservationists, may be required in the short term to help reverse the declines.
As part of the investigation, lead author Dr Barry McMahon from UCD analysed national bird population trends from 10 European countries, including Ireland and the UK.
He found ground-nesting birds were 15.6 times more likely than other birds to have a declining trend across Europe.
He also found ground-nesting birds in agricultural habitats were 17.8 times more likely to experience a drop in their numbers than birds who nest in other habitats.
According to the study, most bird species in Europe classified as being at risk of various levels of extinction are ground-nesting species. Among these is the Eurasian (or common) curlew.
The curlew is one of the most threatened species in Ireland, and the only Irish bird on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list of threatened species.
The study expresses doubt that current legislation is sufficient to halt the widespread decline in ground-nesting birds.
It also says there is a need for a new policy and conservation strategies, including an efficient predator control system.
Dr McMahon said: “It seems likely that habitat restoration alone might not bring about the recovery of ground-nesting bird species.
“[Human] activities have shaped new agricultural landscapes and new predator communities, including foxes and crows, in the last 50 years, and with these changes there are new challenges to manage species that are struggling to deal with this new ecological reality.
“Even if some species may adapt to these novel ecosystems, possibly experiencing lower predation risk, our data expose the fact that there is a widespread decline of ground-nesting bird species across Europe and it is unlikely that a single policy instrument across the continent will effectively address this conservation challenge.”
The study comes in the midst of Cop16, which is currently hosting two weeks of negotiations on efforts to halt and reverse worldwide declines in nature.
Cop16 in Cali, Colombia, will be attended by representatives from almost 200 countries and is colloquially known as the “Nature Cop” because it focuses on protecting and restoring biodiversity.