Gamekeepers vital in protecting rare birds, report finds

RESEARCH carried out by Durham and Newcastle universities into endangered upland birds has found that populations would plunge if gamekeepers stopped protecting them from predators.

Academics surveyed the numbers of ground nesting wading birds and used statistical models to simulate how bird populations in the upland North Pennines and Yorkshire Dales might be affected if grouse moors were managed differently.

They looked at birds including the curlew which scientists say is the UK’s most important bird conservation priority.

According to the report, if there were no gamekeepers preventing foxes, stoats and crows attacking these ground nesting birds, the number of curlew chicks hatching in upland areas could fall by around 87 per cent.

Although some birds would still fly into the moors from other areas, the sharp reduction in successful breeding could cut the overall number of curlew in the uplands of North Pennines and Yorkshire Dales by as much as 60 per cent.

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Most upland bird species declining in numbers, says SNH

15 February 2018

Upland birds have suffered a "worrying decline" in most species, according to new figures.

Scottish Natural Heritage's latest analysis shows 10 out of 17 breeds fell in numbers, decreasing by 16% in total.

The Official Statistic for Terrestrial Breeding Birds looked at data from between 1994 and 2016.

The statistics suggest better breeding success among woodland and farmland birds, with an increase in their numbers.

Simon Foster, trends analyst at Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), said: "It's wonderful to see that woodland and farmland birds are not only holding their own in Scotland, but that many are thriving.

"However, with some upland birds struggling, there are a lot of people and projects working hard to improve conditions for waders - some of which have seen worrying declines.

"We and many of our partners are hoping to see these birds fare better in the coming years."

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Birds, bugs and blanket bogs—Scientists warn an entire eco-system is under threat

July 31, 2015

Several rare upland bird species are being put at risk together with other ecosystem functions by the effects of climate change on the UK's blanket bogs, ecologists at the University of York have discovered.

Most of our drinking water comes from these upland peats and several iconic bird species such as the dunlin, golden plover and red grouse depend on these wetland habitats for nesting and feeding.

The scientists warn that climate change threatens these habitats, not only from rising temperatures increasing peat decomposition, but also via altered rainfall patterns - with summer droughts drastically affecting the blanket bog hydrology.

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Outdoors: Not good news for upland birds

Two hot, dry summers in a row don’t do much good for wildlife of any species. Upland birds like pheasants, quail and prairie chickens are at the whim of Mother Nature and two years of dismal conditions don’t make for promising prospects.

The peak of wheat harvest, even delayed a week or two, can play an important factor in overall pheasant numbers. The earliest wheat harvest on record may have thrown pheasants strike three in some parts of their historical range destroying nests and young broods.

Another dagger for pheasants as a result of drought may have come in the form of emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program acreage. All counties were opened to this practice and 50 percent of a field’s acreage could be hayed or all or a portion of it could be grazed at various rates.

This practice is detrimental in the short term, but many of these older stands of CRP can actually benefit from disturbance and provide better habitat conditions in the future, provided there are cooperative weather patterns.

Continued: http://cjonline.com/sports/2012-09-22/outdoors-not-good-news-upland-birds