INCREASED BROOD-SIZES HELP NUTHATCHES TO FLOURISH SAYS LATEST BTO DATA

                                                      

Nuthatch - a species  on the up

BRITAIN’S nuthatch population is continuing to flourish according to a report just published by  the BTO.

Stretching back 47 years, this much-loved woodland species has been displaying increased brood sizes and falling brood failure rates

The BTO’s FPBA  (Fledglings Per Breeding Attempt) has increased significantly for some 27 other species over the same period.

 This has helped to increase the population of the nuthatch plus  the following:

Sparrowhawk

Buzzard

Barn owl

Merlin

Peregrine

Stock dove

Woodpigeon

Collared dove

Magpie

Jackdaw

Carrion crow

Wren

Robin

Redstart

Pied wagtail

Conversely, numbers of the following species have decreased despite apparently  improving FPBA:.

Little owl 

Tawny owl

Kestrel

Skylark 

Sedge warbler 

Starling

Dipper

Wheatear

House sparrow

Tree sparrow

Grey wagtail 

Yellowhammer

The BTO suggests that habitat-adaptation (or greater habitat availability)  may explain  why some species that have been more successful than others

* Photo: Pawel Kuzniar (via Wikimedia Commons)