Suffolk Birci Report 2008
Editorial and Review of the Year Nick Mason It is easy to listen to anecdotal comments about birds, whether they are common or rare, and to take away ideas that a species is either doing well or declining quickly. In some cases it may be accurate. The only way, however, to know about the county-wide health of different bird species is by proper bird recording. This can be by BBS squares which over a number of years will give an accurate idea of that particular kilometre square. The WeBS counts have been going for more than 40 years and give a year by year account of the numbers of wildfowl and waders on an estuary or waterbody. Good solid data. From time to time we have species-specific surveys such as that for Ringed Plover in 2007. This, of course, is leading me to the British Bird Atlas run by the BTO. The immediate take-up was very good and, at the end of 2008, showed that an amazing number of tetrads had been already completed or started. Some 10-kilometre squares are almost complete (all 25 tetrads surveyed). These areas tend to be on the coast or in areas where there are good numbers of birders. However, as mentioned last year, there is a need for counters in the west of the county towards Haverhill. Just as a reminder, Mick Wright is co-ordinating the effort in Suffolk and he can be contacted on 01473 710032 or by email at mickwright@btinternet.com. One of the species about which I hear so many anecdotal stories, mostly negative, is Turtle Dove. Steve Piotrowski's article on the 2008 Suffolk Wildlife Trust/Suffolk Ornithologists Group survey in this Report goes some way to putting these comments into perspective. At the end of the Atlas period we should have an even better idea of this bird's status. I am often tempted to go to Malta to help those trying to stop the atrocious slaughter of Turtle Doves as they pass through those islands. I know that one has to be careful when comparing other cultures but surely these things can't continue in an EU state in the 21st century? Steve, in his article, mentions how the farming community is likely to influence the fate of this species in Suffolk. Perhaps more of us could try to encourage farmers to include foraging areas on their land? Often this could be field corners near suitable breeding habitat. In his warbler section James Brown mentions the under-recording of some species, especially Goldcrest and Willow Warbler. Hopefully this will be addressed in the Atlas as each tetrad is covered. In the case of Goldcrest I should hope that this would be a species for which all recorders would enter Roving Records as it can sometimes go unrecorded by those with less than 100% hearing. When writing species' accounts the authors include a 'strapline' on their relative status in Suffolk, which we try to keep up to date. There is also mention of their current conservation status. There are three of the latter - Green, Amber and Red. It is worth explaining them. The Red list is for species of the highest conservation priority needing urgent action. The criteria are that they are one of these:• globally threatened • have shown an historical decline in the UK (1800-1995) • show a severe (more than 50%) decline in the UK breeding population over the last 25 years • show a severe (more than 50%) contraction of their UK breeding range over the last 25 years There are 52 species on the Red list which now includes Cuckoo and Yellow Wagtail. Recently Wood Lark and Stone-curlew, because of targeted conservation action, have been moved from Red to Amber based on tight statistical criteria. The Amber list contains 126 species and is based on these criteria:• unfavourable European conservation status • historical population decline, but recovering 5