The latest annual report from the Breeding Bird Survey is now available, providing population trends of the UK’s breeding birds.

Published today, the latest BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) report shows positive news for a range of birds including Marsh Harrier and Corn Bunting. However, the report also reveals worrying declines for familiar woodland and garden species such as Chaffinch and Bullfinch. The latest data also show that some farmland birds that have experienced long-term declines, like Yellowhammer and Yellow Wagtail, continue to struggle.

BBS is the main scheme for monitoring the population changes of the UK’s common and widespread breeding birds. Long-term surveys such as BBS provide the evidence base that underpins effective conservation action, helping identify which species need help, where efforts should be focused, and whether interventions are working. Of the 119 species monitored by BBS, 43 have decreased since 1995, while 36 have increased.