Disappearing species - Help save the birds

DOZENS of common bird species have declined across Europe over the past two decades. Some have been pushed to the brink of extinction.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds found that 56 of the 124 widespread land-based European birds studied had seen numbers dropping since 1980.

Farmland birds are in decline throughout Europe — with total populations of all 33 species of farmland bird in the study suffering a 44% decline between 1980 and 2005.

You can help these species survive by making a contribution to one of the many organisations involved in conservation and habitat protection. Do it in someone’s name, making it a Christmas gift of real significance.