Native Irish wild birds face extinction

UP to a third of Ireland’s wild birds are under threat of extinction, according to an international study of bird numbers in Europe.

Across the 25 EU member states, 226 species of birds, 43% of the total, are facing what BirdLife International calls an uncertain future.

The figure for the island of Ireland is 31%, with 47 of the country's native species under threat.

Already it's too late for some species that were once commonplace, according to Stephen Newton, BirdWatch Ireland's senior conservation officer.

The tens of thousands of corncrake that were flourishing in the 1960s are now down to a hundred birds; the Corn Bunting has become extinct, with just the occasional stray visitor from Britain to be seen; the Twite, a tiny bird of the finch family, has also disappeared.

In all, BirdWatch Ireland has 18 species on its red list of birds that appear doomed to extinction unless drastic action is taken.

Another 80 are on their amber list mostly birds whose numbers have dwindled but are managing to hang on.

"The intensive farming practices of the past few years are mainly to blame. Early grass cutting for silage means many species cannot breed, like the lapwings and skylarks.

"Farmers not leaving stubble in the fields after harvesting grain crops causes problems for other species," said Mr Newton.

Changes to the EU's Common Agriculture Policy will help, but it could be too little too late, he warned.

The picture is similar across Europe, according to the report released yesterday in the Netherlands.

Many species have begun to decline alarmingly. Of particular concern are wading birds, including the Common Snipe, the Eurasian Curlew and the Northern Lapwing, largely because of drainage of lowland river valleys and upland habitat.

Also at risk are migratory birds wintering in sub-Saharan Africa, including the Wood Warbler and the Northern House Martin; and farmland birds including the Corn Bunting, the Eurasian Tree Sparrow and the Eurasian Linnet.

Then there are the familiar urban birds that include the House Sparrow and the Common Starling.

The report had some good news too. Better protection, partly as a result of the European Union's Birds Directive, has led to increases in the Audouin's Gull formerly one of the continent's most threatened seabirds.

Other winners include the Eurasian Griffon and the White-tailed Eagle two of Europe's largest birds of prey.