Birds of Conservation Concern
The population status of birds regularly found in the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man is reviewed every five years to provide an up-to-date assessment of conservation priorities. The 2009 review has assessed a total of 246 species and placed them onto one of three lists, red, amber or green, according to their level of conservation concern. 52 species are red-listed (up from 40 at the previous review), 126 are amber-listed (previously 121) and 68 are green-listed (down from 86).
Seven quantitative criteria are used to assess the population status of each species and to place it on the red, amber or green list. These are global conservation status, recent decline, historical decline, European conservation status, rare breeders, localised species and international importance.
Most of the data for these assessments are based on bird surveys undertaken by volunteers. In future we expect that data from BirdTrack will also contribute to these assessments. In particular there are a number of scarce species that are not well covered by annual monitoring schemes such as the Breeding Bird Survey but that are not so rare that they are monitored in detail by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel or professional surveys. For further information on recording these priority species see Scarce Birds in BirdTrack.
See further details about the Conservation Status of Birds in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man, and read the latest red, amber and green lists in the Birds of Conservation Concern update.
BirdWatch Ireland and RSPB Northern Ireland have agreed a list priority species for conservation action in Ireland. These lists will be reviewed and updated periodically.
Red List - Ireland
Amber List - Ireland
For further details of the Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland review see:
Newton, S., Donaghy, A., Allen, D. & D. Gibbons. 1999. Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland. Irish Birds 6(3) 333-344.
Copies are available from info [at] birdwatchireland.ie (BirdWatch Ireland).
Share this page