Welcome to our South East Christmas Countdown no.10.
Did you know which species briefly benefited from Dutch elm disease? It was the lesser spotted woodpecker! There’s a clue at the bottom to tomorrow’s story. If you missed no.11 in the Countdown, you can read it here.
Christmas is a time of celebration! In our countdown to Christmas, we would like to share with you some of this year’s success stories, about some of our most threatened birds in the South East. In September, the State of Nature 2016 report was published. It highlights the alarming decline of many UK species, but it also showed that we can turn the fortunes of our wildlife around, given determination, resources, public support and conservation action.
About lesser spotted woodpeckers
The elusive lesser spotted woodpecker is often confused with the much more familiar great spotted woodpecker, which is frequently seen on feeders in gardens. But lesser spotted woodpeckers are tiny, the size of a house sparrow, and are very hard to see because they are mainly active high up in the canopy of big trees. These little birds make a nesthole in soft, decayed wood in a tree. They are monogamous, and because they are so site-faithful may stay together for successive years.
The most likely causes of their population decline are competition with, and even predation by, great spotted woodpeckers, as well as reductions in small-diameter dead wood suitable for foraging. Their numbers were thought to have increased as elm trees succumbed to Dutch elm disease, because the dying trees supported plenty of invertebrate food. Then the dead trees were cleared, and the population has fallen again, making this one of the most strongly declining bird species in Europe. The State of the UK's Birds 2015 report showed an estimated decline of 82% in the UK from 1970-2013, and the birds have disappeared from many of their former localities.
Good news from 2016
We are still researching the decline of this species. However, we can help where we know it currently breeds, at reserves including RSPB Blean Wood, which was home to a fantastic 10 pairs last summer. Ensuring a supply of dead and rotting wood will help the birds to create homes, as well as providing the insects that they eat.
In March 2016, presenter Ellie Harrison and the BBC’s Countryfile team visited our RSPB Pulborough Brooks reserve to find out more about woodpeckers as it is home to all three UK breeding woodpecker species.
Our work wouldn’t be possible without your continued support, through membership, volunteering and even your Christmas purchases in our shops. On behalf of our teams and all the wildlife you have helped us to save, thank you, and have a great Christmas!
Our story for April
We’ll celebrate another story tomorrow, so keep an eye out for it, but in the meantime here’s a clue to keep you guessing…
Which of our conservation priority species was keen to join the beach party?