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Countryside Bird Survey 2009
Summary 1998 - 2007 ..
The survey, begun in 1998, runs from April to June each year and will provide vital scientific data on Ireland's
breeding bird populations and their distribution. It runs in parallel with similar surveys in Northern Ireland and
Britain and will link with corresponding research work throughout Europe.
The aims of the CBS are:
CBS data will also provide a useful input to the EU requirement for a wider
The Fieldwork Season
Counts are made early in the morning, the period of greatest bird activity, beginning ideally between 6am and 7am.
Each fieldwork visit usually takes less than two hours to complete.
Detailed information on survey techniques is available from
BirdWatch Ireland.
The Countryside Bird Survey (CBS) has been in operation since 1998. Its primary aim
is to monitor breeding bird populations in the Republic of Ireland.
A random sample of 10 km squares was selected and, within each, the most southwesterly
1 km square was surveyed twice during each breeding season. Bird numbers are counted
along two roughly parallel 1km transects in each square.
A total of 397 squares have been surveyed, with between 259 and 325 squares covered
in any one season. Coverage was greatest in the east and southeast regions, and poorest in the northwest and south.
Nonetheless, the number of squares covered regularly in each region was deemed adequate for
meaningful analyses of the population trends of several species, including trends at a
regional level. Some 392 squares were surveyed in two or more seasons and were included in trend analyses.
The total number of species recorded was 145. Some 62 species occurred in 20 or more squares,
and these included 18 species of conservation concern in Ireland.
Wren, Robin, Blackbird and
Chaffinch were the most widespread occurring species, being
found in 90% or more of squares, while Rook, Starling
and Wren were the most abundant.
Trend analyses were undertaken on 57 species, these being the species which were recorded in
20 squares or more. Some 25 species showed increasing trends over the 10-year period since
1998, nine species declined, while the remaining 23 species remained relatively stable.
Pigeons, warblers, tits, finches and buntings fared particularly well, with no
species among these groups showing declines. Greatest increases were seen in
Stonechat, Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher, Goldfinch, Redpoll and
Bullfinch, while greatest declines were in Kestrel, Swift, Skylark and Mistle
Thrush.
Most of the national trends were consistent across sampling regions. Notable
exceptions included Swallow, which increased in the southwest and declined in the
midlands, and Song Thrush, which increased in the northeast and
declined in the southeast. The decline in Skylark seems to be driven largely by declines
in the western region. Meadow Pipit showed decline in the southwest only.
Yellowhammer has remained stable nationally throughout the
Countryside Bird Survey, but showed a decline in its stronghold region, the southeast.
The significant trends presented are largely consistent with those elsewhere in Europe, especially in the UK and western Europe.
from the Countryside Bird Survey Report 1998 - 2007
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| Significant changes in population levels 98-07 | ||
| Species | Mean Change% 98-07 | |
| Kestrel | -6.89 | |
| Pheasant | 2.86 | |
| Feral Pigeon | 6.49 | |
| Stock Dove | -0.93 | |
| Woodpigeon | 2.3 | |
| Collared Dove | 4.47 | |
| Cuckoo | 1.78 | |
| Swift | -8.19 | |
| Skylark | -2.67 | |
| Swallow | -0.09 | |
| Wren | 1.73 | |
| Robin | -1.08 | |
| Stonechat | 6.32 | |
| Wheatear | -0.31 | |
| Mistle Thrush | -3.3 | |
| Sedge Warbler | 2.99 | |
| Blackcap | 16.08 | |
| Long-tailed Tit | 1.29 | |
| Magpie | -1.41 | |
| Jackdaw | 2.26 | |
| Rook | -3.51 | |
| House Sparrow | 3.38 | |
| Chaffinch | 1.04 | |
| Goldfinch | 9.87 | |
| Linnet | 1.88 | |
| Redpoll | 12.72 | |
| Bullfinch | 6.66 | |
| Reed Bunting | 3.04 | |
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Research confirms extent of Europe’s disappearing farmland birds - BirdLife International 07-06-2007
New research has shown that Europe’s farmland birds have declined by almost 50% in the past 25 years – a trend
caused by EU-wide agricultural intensification being driven by a policy in need of urgent reform.
The results, released today, bring together the most comprehensive biodiversity indicators of their kind
in Europe, collated by the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (PECBMS) - a partnership
led by scientists from the European Bird Census Council, BirdLife International,
the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) and Statistics Netherlands.
The data was collected from 20 independent breeding bird surveys across Europe over the last
25 years, all of which were coordinated thanks to the concerted efforts of national programmes
involving thousands of dedicated volunteer birdwatchers.
The results confirm the extent to which farmland birds have declined. Across Europe as a whole from
1980 to 2005, common farmland birds have on average fallen in number by 44% – the most severe decline
of the bird categories monitored.
“Birds can be vital barometers of environmental change – their declines are clear evidence of the
environmental degradation that has occurred across European farmland,” said Dr Richard Gregory,
Chairman of the European Bird Census Council, and Head of Monitoring and Indicators at the RSPB.
“The data are staring us in the face: many farmland birds - and the species and habitats with which
they coexist are under serious threat.”
Species like Eurasian Skylark, Red-backed Shrike, Corn Bunting, Northern Lapwing and Eurasian Tree
Sparrow are familiar names in the long list of declining farmland bird species.
The bird organisations involved in the study are calling for a reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP),
a system of European Union subsidies and programmes that has led to considerable
agricultural intensification in EU Member States. Although this drive has lessened with successive reforms,
the CAP still appears to fail farmland birds and the European environment in general.
“These results show how urgently we need a complete reform of the Common Agriculture Policy, to deliver
targeted support for high nature value farming systems and farmed Natura 2000 sites, and to support
farmers in delivering environmental improvements throughout the countryside,” said Ariel Brunner, BirdLife’s
EU Agriculture Policy Officer, based in Brussels.
Most concerning is the likelihood of rapid farmland bird declines in new EU Member States that hold some
of Europe’s largest concentrations of farmland birds. The study indicates that declines in farmland
birds in new EU Member States mirror those declines of more established EU Member States. The fear is that
EU accession may accelerate and worsen the situation.
“The EU has made encouraging strides forward in environmental legislation, yet for farmland - which
accounts for nearly half of the total land surface of Europe - we are working to an outdated policy
that still encourages unsustainable intensive farming, while failing to support those extensive farming
systems that are vital for biodiversity conservation and rural economies,” said Brunner.
"These results show how urgently we need a complete reform of the Common Agriculture Policy.."
said Ariel Brunner, BirdLife’s EU Agriculture Policy Officer
and now declines in forest birds ..
Findings from the study also show declines for forest birds: across Europe as a whole from 1980 to 2005,
numbers of common forest birds have fallen on average by 9%.
The researchers highlight that the speed with which forest ecosystems react to changes in management are
much slower than in farmlands, so this decline may carry a very serious warning. They are now urging for
further studies to investigate the driving factors, management regimes in particular.
Forest bird declines have been particularly severe in the boreal forests of Northern Europe, where
they are thought to be threatened by highly intensive forestry exploitation.
"We have the data and the knowledge to help farmland and forest birds,but we need urgently to look
deeper into the reasons behind these declines – and to design effective policies that will
ensure further losses do not occur,” said Dr Gregory.
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The Countryside Bird Survey (CBS) is a national research project being conducted by BirdWatch Ireland volunteers
and NPWS Conservation Rangers, to monitor bird population trends.