Population trends of wintering birds around Banbury, Oxfordshire, 1975–96

Author: Easterbrook T.G.¹

Source: Bird Study, Volume 46, Number 1, 1 March 1999 , pp. 16-24(9)

Publisher: British Trust for Ornithology

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Abstract:

This report describes the results of an ongoing survey (1975–96) of wintering birds in twelve 10 km × 10 km squares around Banbury, Oxfordshire. Trends in both abundance and distribution were discernible for 48 species of the 93 recorded. These trends mirror those published for breeding birds in the UK as a whole. The severe decline of many farmland species that has been documented elsewhere is clearly shown here, although recently several species in our study are showing encouraging increases or stability. This study, carried out by the Banbury Ornithological Society, is the only long-term scheme monitoring terrestrial wintering birds in the UK. Its results are particularly important because, in winter, the UK may support a significant proportion of the European populations of some species, and it demonstrates the validity of winter census.

Keywords: Cygnus; Pluvialis; Falco; Milvus; Loxia; Miliaria; Emberiza; Vanellus; Passer; Turdus; Gallinula; Perdix; Carduelis; Motacilla; Acipiter; Pica; Corvus; Streptopelia; Prunella; Columba; Aegithalos; Fringilla; Regulus