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Wet summer threatens Cock Robin
BRITAIN’S national bird, the robin, and many other species of song birds are under severe threat if we have another wet summer this year, according to scientists at the British Trust for Ornithology.
Last year’s constant downpours cut the robin’s breeding successes by 22% because many young chicks died soon after hatching because of cold and a lack of food. If that was bad, another similar summer could be a disaster, cutting the robin population by a half, says the BTO.
Many other species suffered last year. The full list, with the percentage of their decline, is:
| Bird | Reduced Productivity in 2008 |
|---|---|
| Dunnock | -21% |
| Robin | -22% |
| Blackbird | -32% |
| Song Thrush | -35% |
| Sedge Warbler | -15% |
| Whitethroat | -18% |
| Garden Warbler | -34% |
| Blackcap | -24% |
| Willow Tit | -21% |
| Blue Tit | -25% |
| Great Tit | -35% |
| Chaffinch | -27% |
