Are predators to blame for songbird declines?
In the biggest ever analysis of songbirds and their predators, published today in the Journal of Applied Ecology, scientists look at the role of predators in the decline of species such as Bullfinch and Yellowhammer. Whilst a small number of associations may suggest significant negative effects between predator and prey species, for the majority of the songbird species examined there is no evidence that increases in common avian predators or Grey Squirrels are associated with large-scale population declines. This research by Stuart Newson (BTO), Eric Rexstad (University of St Andrews), Stephen Baillie (BTO), Stephen Buckland (University of St Andrews) and Nicholas Aebischer (Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust) is published as “Population changes of avian predators and grey squirrels in England: is there evidence for an impact on avian prey populations?” the British Ecological Society’s Journal of Applied Ecology. Sparrowhawk © John Robinson, from the surfbirds galleries. By combining
