Last week I posted an entry on the Kestrel. Since then the RSPB has published its Safeguarding Species report. The report identifies the top one hundred bird species in the UK that most need help to maintain their conservation status. Forty of these species have been prioritised for immediate conservation action. Amongst the forty species the Kestrel has been identified as needing research to identify the causes of its decline so that solutions for its recovery can be developed.
Kestrels were persecuted between 1880 and 1920. Like the Peregrine they also experienced a serious decline in the late 1950s and in 1960s due to organochlorine pesticides. Although they recovered following the withdrawal of pesticides their numbers started to decline again in 1980s, probably as a consequence of agricultural intensification reducing habitat and food availability. The current UK Kestrel population stands at 36,800 pairs with a population trend of a 21% decline.
For more on this report take a look at the following link http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-261764. Check out BBC’s Wildlife magazine this month too as it contains a feature length article on Kestrels. And if you’re interested in raptors generally http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/ is a good source of news stories and info.