Bird species on brink of extinction in Europe

DOZENS of common bird species have declined across Europe over the past quarter of a century, with some pushed to the brink of extinction in the continent, a report warned yesterday.

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.

The conservation charity said Christmas favourites such as the grey partridge, which has declined by 79% since 1980, were facing extinction in Europe.