A conference at the University of Leicester in April next year will set out to explore this question, examining the importance of birds in the functioning of ecosystems.

It will also explore the cultural services that birds provide and consider how Government and non-Governmental organisations are engaging with this new approach in policy. Debating the philosophical and practical problems surrounding the ecosystem services approach will be a key feature of the conference, as well as finding new opportunities for bird conservation. It will cover the following topics:
• The provisioning, regulating and supporting ecosystem services provided by birds, avian functional ecology and relationships between bird diversity and ecosystem functioning;
• The cultural significance of birds and how this is valued;
• How Governments, policymakers and conservation organisations around the world are responding to and implementing the ecosystem services approach;
• Management strategies, tradeoffs and the consequences for traditional species based and practical
management.

The conference scope will be international, with a focus on how to integrate ecosystem service science with practical bird conservation into policy. It is aimed at academics, research and conservationorganisations as well as statutory government agencies and those engaged in policy, advocacy and conservation management.

Further information and details on how to register.

From the Society of Biology’s Science Policy weekly news update:

Key results

• The unsmoothed farmland bird population index for England, covering 19 species, decreased by 5 per cent between 2008 and 2009. The index is now at its lowest recorded value, at 53 per cent lower than its 1966 starting value.
• Twelve species (almost two-thirds of those included in the index) declined between 2008 and 2009 – Kestrel, Lapwing, Grey Partridge, Skylark, Starling, Greenfinch, Tree Sparrow, Yellow Wagtail, Linnet, Wood Pigeon, Corn Bunting and Rook. This decline was significant for the first six species listed. For many species, the decline between 2008 and 2009 is a continuation of downward trends evident over at least the last four or five years.
• Seven species increased between 2008 and 2009 – Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Reed Bunting, Stock Dove, Turtle Dove, Whitethroat and Yellowhammer. Most of these, for example Goldfinch and Jackdaw, have shown long-term upward trends.

Bird populations are considered to be a good indicator of the broad state of wildlife because birds occupy a wide range of habitats, they tend to be near or at the top of food chains and there is considerable long-term data on changes in bird populations which helps with the interpretation of shorter term fluctuations.

Further information.

New research published online today in the British Ecological Society’s Journal of Applied Ecology offers a way to more accurately estimate the size of bird populations using bird song. The technique could offer a way to assess the numbers of hard-to-spot species of bird and could even be used to track the population density of whale and dolphin species.

Deanna Dawson, US Geological Survey, and Murray Efford, University of Otago, New Zealand, recorded the sounds of the Ovenbird, a species of both which is both hard to see and which has a distinctive call, in the Patuxent Research Refuge, near Laurel, Maryland, USA. Using a ‘microphone array’ technique, placing four microphones at intervals and in different locations around the forest, the researchers were able to record the sounds of the ovenbirds and then to combine the recordings from each microphone. Using computer models, the researchers then conducted an analysis, based on the attenuation of the sounds and the relationship between this attenuation and population density, to find the ‘best match’ to the data. In this way they were able to accurately estimate the population size of the ovenbirds.

Biologists have long counted bird songs or calls to generate an index of bird abundance but this relies on being able to see the bird – to assess whether it is within a set distance from the observer. Existing methods of assessing population size also often depend on capturing the birds in nets, which can be very stressful for the animals. This is the first time that sound recordings from a microphone array have been translated into an accurate estimate of bird species populations.

The research has already generated interest from the press in the UK this morning, featuring as a lengthy item on the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme (approx: 7.45am GMT) .
Listen Again to the Today Programme on BBC I-Player

See the Press Release on the BES website: Ecologists sound out new solution for monitoring cryptic species

Deanna K. Dawson and Murray G. Efford (2009). Bird population density estimated from acoustic signals, Journal of Applied Ecology, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01731.x, is published online today.

To date, few indicators have been developed that summarise the impacts of climate change on multiple species over large areas of land. Such an indicator is much desired by policy-makers, who want to be able to see the potential impacts of climate change on biodiversity. A new EU-supported study has therefore developed an indicator of climate change’s impact on European birds, which has subsequently been used to report threats to biodiversity.

The climatic impact indicator (CII) was developed by studying 108 of the 124 species in the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme. It provides a graphic representation in the form of an index to demonstrate how climate change is affecting biodiversity. When the size of a bird’s population changes in line with predictions, the indicator goes up. The predictions come from a climate envelope model which maps changes in the environment surrounding a certain species or ecosystem under likely climate change. The indicator has been increasing since the 1980s, a pattern which matches rising temperatures in Europe and suggests that climate change is having a growing impact.

Whilst the CII incorporates both positive and negative changes in bird populations, the researchers found that 75 per cent of changes were negative. The species likely to be worst affected by climate change include the Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) and Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla), although some species, such as the European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster), are already being observed to benefit.

The CII may be able to inform environmental policy by acting as a biodiversity target, for example if a policy objective was introduced to slow the rate of increase of the CII. Such a target would of course have to recognise time lags in the impact of climate change. Separate CII indicators could nonetheless be prepared for individual countries and groups of birds in the future, as well as for many different species.

Source: Gregory, R.D., Willis, S.G. Jiguet, F. et al. (2009). An indicator of the Impact of Climatic Change on European Bird Populations.
Free to download here.

Recent research has shown that the decline in yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava flavissima) populations may be partly attributed to reduced soil penetrability.

Yellow wagtail populations declined by 65% between 1972 and 2006, resulting in the species being placed on the red list of birds of conservation concern in the UK. Research was conducted examining the relationship between the distribution of these birds and a variety of habitat features across 14 intensively cultivated farms in the UK.

The results found that yellow wagtail numbers were most strongly linked to the penetrability of the soil in fields planted with crops. Fields with more penetrable soils supported a greater number of nesting colonies of the birds.

Interestingly, yellow wagtails themselves do not feed by probing the ground for food, instead catching food in flight or picking insects off the surface. However, it is thought that hard soil may reduce the food source of the yellow wagtail’s prey, and therefore have a knock-on effect on yellow wagtail populations.

Another possible reason for the correlation is that yellow wagtails construct their nests by scraping a hollow out of the ground, a practice which could be more difficult in less penetrable soils. Compacted soils may also have worse drainage qualities, decreasing offspring survival rates.

Modern, intensive-farming practices are largely responsible for this degradation of soil quality, with heavy machinery in particular compacting soils and reducing their penetrability. The researchers recommend that soils be protected from further degradation. Key measures include reducing the intensive use of heavy machinery, autumn sowing and irrigation, all of which would lead to benefits for both biodiversity and agriculture. Further research on the relationship between soil permeability and other farmland bird populations is also required.

British ecological controversy has suddenly found itself in the media glare, as wildlife charities publicly dispute the role of magpies in limiting songbird populations.

The Songbird Survival Trust has urged people to trap and kill magpies over the next three months in order to conserve populations of song thrushes, blackbirds and house sparrows. They blame the birds for contributing to recent population declines by raiding nests and eating eggs and young. Nick Forde, a trustee of the SST, said “I don’t like the idea of harming animals but if they are destroying our biodiversity, then we have to take action. Unless the population of some predators is controlled, there is little, if any, hope that the small bird populations can recover.”

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 specifically provides for the culling of magpies, as long as it is done humanely and for a specific purpose, such as bird conservation.

However, groups including the RSPB have spoken out against the cull. A spokesman said: “We do not think that trapping and killing of magpies is justified in most situations. In certain circumstances on reserves to protect ground-nesting birds such as lapwings it may be necessary to reduce magpie numbers. But we do not think there is any case for people to do it in their own gardens and it will make absolutely no difference to arrest the decline of songbirds throughout the country.”

Chris Packham, the naturalist and TV presenter, responded even more forcefully in the Guardian, accusing the Trust of “kneejerk ornithological racism” and “outdated views built on a foundation of medieval superstition”.

Whilst acknowledging the role magpies play as predators, opponents of the cull point instead to the intensification of farming practices, pollution and habitat loss as the main reasons for declining songbird populations. They argue that the limited research that has been done does not single out magpies as the cause, and that anecdotal observational evidence may be overly influencing opinions.

To read more, visit the Times.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has called for a significant increase in the number of wind farms in the UK, after a new study found far more turbines could be built onshore without harming wildlife.

The RSPB has campaigned against wind farms in the past, because of the potential threat to birds, and helped prevent the biggest onshore wind farm in Europe being built on the Isle of Lewis because of the risk to sea eagles.

However, a new study, commissioned by the organisation and written by the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), has found wind farms pose no threat to birds and other animals if they are put up in the right area.

Experts at the charity said that, in addition to this, they would support the development of more wind farms because of the “truly terrifying” impact that global warming was having on birds. Ruth Davis, head of climate change policy at the charity, stressed that there was an urgent need to significantly increase sources of renewable energy to tackle greenhouse gas emissions. “Left unchecked, climate change threatens many species with extinction.” She said.

The study also revealed that the UK is trailing behind the rest Europe in building wind farms because of its bureacratic planning process, despite having abundant natural wind resources. Wind turbines generated just 2% of the UK’s energy in 2007, compared with 29% in Denmark, 20% in Spain and 15% in Germany.

Ruth Davis said: “We need a clear lead from government on where wind farms should be built and clear guidance for local councils on how to deal with applications. We must reduce the many needless delays that beset wind farm developments”.

“This report shows that if we get it right, the UK can produce huge amounts of clean energy without time-consuming conflicts and harm to our wildlife. Get it wrong and people may reject wind power. That would be disastrous.”

Read more about this story on the BBC News website and the Telegraph News Website

More information can be found on the RSPB wesite

The outlook for endangered albatross species has dramatically improved, thanks to the success of an international conservation programme implemented by the RSPB and Birdlife International.

The Albatross Task Force (ATF) was established in 2006 in order to reduce the number of accidental albatross deaths caused by long-line fishing. At the time, it was estimated that one bird was killed every five minutes from long line fishing, and 19 of the 22 albatross species were under threat from extinction.

The birds were dying because they were taking bait from fishing lines fed into the sea from boats fishing for tuna or swordfish. Once they swallowed the bait, they would become caught on the hook, dragged underwater and drown.

Specialist instructors from the ATF went out with fishermen and taught them techniques that would stop the birds becoming entangled. They were encouraged to fish at night, weight their lines and attach streamers to the back of vessels to scare the birds away. Government legislation also played its part by stipulating that no more than 25 birds could be caught as “by-catch” during trips.

The programme has been heralded as a resounding success, and has reduced deaths by up to 85% in some locations.

Dr Ross Wanless, coordinator of the Birdlife programme in Africa, said: “Changing entrenched attitudes and practices is a slow process, but the ATF has shown that by working with government and industry, change is possible.”

Whilst the 19 species are not freed from the threat of extinction yet- many are still snagged by trawlers, breeding is slow and habitats are endangered – the campaign is likely to have made a remarkable impact on their population stability and its success cannot be understated.

Learn more about the ‘Save the Albatross’ Campaign here.

Read more about this story at the BBC News website and the Times News website.

Environment secretary, Hilary Benn has announced new proposals to bring back payments for farmers who set aside areas of uncultivated land to promote biodiversity and environmental benefits.

The system of subsiding farmers for setting-aside areas of land from agricultural production was introduced in the 1980’s in order to curtail over-production, which had generated food surpluses and caused a dramatic reduction in some commodity prices.

The scheme was effectively abolished by the European Commission in 2008 after harvests were devastated by extensive flooding and global food prices began to soar. Environmental groups and conservationists did not welcome the decision as the uncultivated land provided a vital source of food and refuge for wildlife in agricultural landscapes, especially birds.

In a speech to the National Farmers’ Union conference in Birmingham later today, Benn is expected to propose two possible options; a mandatory scheme requiring a minimum area land to be set aside with incentives to expand, and an entirely voluntary scheme. A decision is expected in the summer.

“I welcome the idea of a voluntary scheme, led by the industry, if we can be sure that it will deliver,” he is expected to say.

Read more about this issue on the Guardian news website
Updates on the NFU conference can be found here

Tristan Albatross chicks are raised exclusively on Gough Island, a UK Overseas Territory. Sadly they are being predated by ‘killer mice’ at such an unprecedented rate the species faces imminent extinction unless urgent action is taken.

Government funding to tackle the introduced mouse epidemic on Gough Island is severely lacking, despite strong recommendations from two Select Committees calling for the problem to be urgently tackled: “biodiversity found in the UK Overseas Territories is equally valuable and at a greater risk of loss [than the UK].” Simply eradicating mice from the island would resolve the problem: albatross chicks face the horrific death of being eaten alive by mice whilst still on the nest.

RSPB scientist Richard Cuthbert has researched the mice problem on Gough Island since 2000. Speaking about the latest results he said:

“We’ve known for a long time that the mice were killing albatross chicks in huge numbers. However, we now know that the albatrosses have suffered their worst year on record.

“The mice do not affect the adult albatrosses, but we know from our work that these are being killed by long line fishing vessels at sea. So, unsustainable numbers of this bird are being killed on land and at sea. Without conservation efforts, the Tristan albatross is doomed.”

The Gough bunting – endemic to the island – faces the same threat and is equally at risk. A recent survey showed that of 1764 incubated Albatross eggs on the island, only 246 chicks survived to fledgling, an astonishingly low 14%.

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee on Halting Biodiversity Loss, published a statement recently backing calls by the RSPB saying:

“One of the most important contributions that the Government could make to halting biodiversity loss would be to provide more support for the UK Overseas Territories, where it is the eleventh hour for many species. Although England has a number of internationally important species and habitats, the biodiversity found in the UK Overseas Territories is equally valuable and at a greater risk of loss. The Government must act now to protect these areas.”

This view was backed up by the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee for the UK Overseas Territories who stated in June: “The environmental funding currently being provided by the UK to the Overseas Territories appears grossly inadequate and we recommend that it should be increased.”

The British Ecological Society is a member of the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum and fully supports the position of the Select Committees in calling for urgent funds to be allocated for efforts to eradicate mice from Gough Island.