‘Monitoring rare breeding birds in the UK: the work of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel’, a talk by Dr Mark Eaton

Mark is Secretary of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel (RBBP). He began his talk by posing the question, why should we monitor rare breeding birds? There are a number of reasons. We need to set conservation priorities so that the available money is used where most needed. Many rare breeding birds are on the Birds of Conservation Concern’s Red List and need help. Also, RBBP data feeds into the annual State of Nature Report which provides a health-check on the UK’s wildlife. In addition it feeds into research, helps inform conservation responses and can be used to measure the effectiveness of conservation initiatives.

The RBBP is an independent body which since 1973 has been collating data and producing an annual report on rare breeding birds in the UK. It covers the 80 or so regular breeding species in the UK with populations less than 2,000 pairs plus occasional or potential breeders and rare non-native species such as black swan which it is important to keep track of. Species covered include little egret with 1,000 to 2,000 pairs, pochard with 300 to 1,000 pairs, black-throated diver with about 180 pairs and the marsh warbler with up to 30 pairs. Occasional or potential breeders include the common rosefinch which looked as if it might colonise the UK in the 1980s. Data comes from conservationists, reserve staff, scientists, specialist amateurs such as ringers, county recorders submitting data submitted to them by birdwatchers, licensed nest recorders and Raptor Study Groups. The RBBP maintains a secure archive for conservation and research purposes and produces an annual report which is published in British Birds. The species covered by the Panel are reviewed every year with additions and deletions as populations increase or decrease.

Mark gave us an update on some of the species covered by the Panel based on the 2018 report in the December 2020 issues of British Birds. These included:

• Crane with over 40 pairs, one of 10 species for which 2018 was their best year since 1973. This is the result of a natural increase and the Great Crane Project.
• Bittern which exceeded 200 booming males for the first time. Their increase is due to research resulting in better management of reedbeds and the creation of many new reedbeds.
• Goshawk, re-introduced by enthusiastic amateurs in the 1960s and now with over 600 pairs. The RBBP data are not complete as the birds are secretive and some birdwatchers are unwilling to reveal regular nest sites.
• Mediterranean gull which increased significantly in 2018 with well over 2,000 breeding pairs and up to 1,000 in one colony. Its presence on the list will be kept under review.
• Red-backed shrike, once a widespread breeding species but by 1973 down to about 50 pairs and now very rare. There are still breeding attempts, with Devon the most important county. In the Netherlands the population is increasing again.

How we can help: Mark urged us to think about the RBBP when we are birdwatching. Quail, garganey, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, little ringed plover, little egret, goshawk, lesser-spotted woodpecker, hobby, peregrine, red-backed shrike, willow tit, woodlark, Dartford warbler and cirl bunting all occur in Devon and require better coverage. If we come across any of these in the breeding season we should check the bird’s behaviour using the proof of breeding criteria used for bird atlas work and submit the record to Kevin Rylands, the Devon County Recorder. Include date, the number of birds seen, the precise location and breeding evidence. If feasible, sightings should be followed up later in the season. Mark stressed that when collecting data it is important to be discreet and comply with wildlife legislation and follow the Birdwatchers’ Code of Conduct. Records entered on BirdTrack are passed to the RBBP and this is useful when birding in an area where one does not know the county recorder. Anyone holidaying in remote parts of the country can help by submitting breeding records of species seen. Finally Mark mentioned that efforts are being made to establish regular annual monitoring of cirl buntings across their range in Devon and Cornwall. The survey unit is a tetrad (2x2km square) and two visits are needed every year between April and August.

We thank Mark for a very informative and enjoyable talk on an important subject. We don’t often have the chance to follow up a talk by making our own contribution but I am sure that he has inspired some of us to make the effort next breeding season.

Helen Baker