Information note - A17

Workshop Report

Woodland Birds in the UK – Report and Recommendations

Summary

An FRCC workshop was held in York in April 2003 to discuss the potential research agenda for woodland birds, including the priorities identified by the Woodland Bird Group. Thirty participants, including policy makers, research funders, scientists and forest managers discussed the knowledge gaps, priority areas for research, and potential to integrate studies with the wider biodiversity agenda. This report summarises the main findings, makes recommendations for action and sets out FRCC’s initial response. Research on woodland birds is of high priority and FRCC will encourage coordinated surveys and research on woodland birds. A research agenda is proposed which would underpin policy and identify action to reverse the decline in a key UK sustainable development indicator.

Purpose of the workshop

The topic of woodland birds, and the possible decline in their populations, is becoming prominent in a number of policy areas within the UK, and is being accompanied by calls for supporting research. The FRCC agreed that the time was right to consider the current and potential research agenda for woodland birds. A workshop was held in York in April 2003, administered by Forest Research, with financial support from Defra and the Forestry Commission (FC). The objectives of the workshop were:

To briefly summarise recent/existing research work on ‘woodland birds’ in the UK
To review and prioritise research needs, incorporating the needs of policy makers and within the context of overall biodiversity research priorities
To identify key scientific questions
To stimulate funding consortia to progress a woodland bird research agenda

Background to the topic

A number of observations and recent developments have served to emphasise the importance of woodland birds. For example:

Declines in populations of several woodland bird species have been documented using the British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) Common Birds Census (see BTO Research Report 245).
The potential inter-relationship between these declines and those of farmland birds has been acknowledged.
Some woodland bird species are included as priorities within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) and a number of these are under serious threat, and appear on red and amber lists of Birds of Conservation Concern in the UK 2002.

Past changes in woodland management, structure and extent have affected bird populations.
Knowledge is required to develop specific measures that improve habitat quality for woodland birds.
A composite index of thirty-three woodland birds forms part of an UK Sustainable development indicator, Wild Bird Populations. The woodland bird index has declined by around 20% since the 1970’s whereas the overall wild bird indicator has remained stable. It has been suggested that there is a regional pattern to the decline.
A contract ‘Long-term changes in the populations of woodland birds’ has been let to RSPB/BTO funded by a partnership of Defra, English Nature (EN), FC (England, Wales and GB), Woodland Trust, Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB), and BTO. This study focuses on establishing the changes in bird populations and habitat in broadleaved woods and further work will be needed to improve geographic and woodland type coverage.

Representatives of 14 Government and non-Government organisations, including FC, Defra, EN, RSPB and BTO have joined together in the Woodland Bird Group (WBG). The group aims to address the long-term national declines in populations of woodland birds by raising awareness of the problem, agreeing priority work to understand the causes and, then, encourage further co-ordinated research, policy and management action to reverse the declines. The WBG has agreed that the key priority is populations re-survey to identify regional differences in population trends and point to likely causes. Three sub-groups of the WBG are developing further ideas under broad headings of ‘Woodland Processes’, ‘Woodland Species’ and ‘Coniferous woodland birds’. It was widely felt that development of this embryonic research agenda would benefit from exposure to a wider set of interested researchers and research funders.

Recent research effort on woodland birds has not been substantial but there is now considerable interest in increasing the effort. Funders and researchers need a clearer view of the relative importance of different topics related to the decline, and how to balance these with the demands of the wider biodiversity research agenda.

Structure of the Workshop

Introductory Talks:

Three speakers provided background context and material to provoke discussion.

Jane Goodwin (Defra) provided the overall policy context for the workshop, highlighting the hierarchy of policy drivers from global initiatives, European, UK and country policies, to local biodiversity action plans. A key point was to consider woodland bird issues within the context of the wider biodiversity agenda as summarised in the ‘Science in Action for Biodiversity’ report (Defra, 2001) of the UK Biodiversity Research Working Group (now renamed UK BRAG).

Rob Fuller (BTO) reviewed the needs perceived by the research community and, in particular, the sub-groups of the WBG. Parallels were drawn with the research process addressing the farmland bird decline, highlighting a sequence of quantification of problem > establishment of causation > testing of solution > monitoring of progress. Although much international research had stressed habitat fragmentation, there were important concerns over habitat quality in the UK context. A key point was the likely complexity of the woodland and bird interaction in comparison with the farmland situation where intensification had been a clear driver of population decline, and autecological needs had been relatively well understood.

Gordon Patterson (FC Scotland) provided an overview of the research needs identified by policy makers. Recent and potential changes in forest and wider landscape management were highlighted, together with the utility of bird species in a number of roles (e.g. indicator species). A key point was that priority for research should occur where wider habitat restoration would not be sufficient to cater for species needs.

Workshop groups:

In the main workshop session, 3 breakout groups (Appendix 1) focussing on autecology, stand-level processes, and landscape scale processes considered knowledge gaps, research priorities and opportunities to link with the wider biodiversity agenda. The findings were reported to a plenary session and there was some common discussion.

Main conclusions of the workshop sessions

Research on Autecology:

A preliminary gap analysis was undertaken for the species list representing the Birds of Conservation Concern (red and amber listed species) using the research sequence established for farmland bird decline of Quantification of trend > Diagnosis of cause > Test of cure > Monitoring of solutions. The analysis is reproduced in Appendix 2. Further prioritisation could be achieved using criteria of magnitude of decline/threat; future threat; potential synergies with other species/taxa/scale research; representativeness of wider guild; tractability of research. The latter two criteria point to the potential benefits of conducting research on a range of species, and not just the rarest or those suffering the greatest decline.

The key point to emerge was that for nearly all declining/threatened species (and for many non-threatened yet important species) there is insufficient knowledge to understand the current population status or make any form of prediction about future status. Specific recommendations to arrest the decline are therefore impossible. Although it is hoped that the current RSPB/BTO survey will highlight a short-list of causes of population decline, there is a clear need to progress autecological research on several species now.

Research on Stand-level processes:

A dual role was identified for stand-scale research relating woodland characteristics to bird species requirements. There is a need for sufficient autecological knowledge in order to guide woodland management and ensure that the required/desirable habitat features are provided. Conversely, there is a need to understand the impacts of management decisions (or processes occurring despite management) on the populations of woodland birds via the effect on habitat quality. Therefore the recommended sequence was Modelling > Prediction > Guidance > Monitoring > Feedback. It was felt that birds provided a useful, relatively easily researched set of species that could be used as a surrogate for wider biodiversity.

The key point to emerge was that the current state of knowledge was inadequate to perform this dual role of providing for birds, and understanding potential impacts on birds and wider biodiversity. Particular priorities (Appendix 3) reflect the need to develop a better understanding of the concept of habitat quality and those processes felt to be causing largest changes to habitat quality.

Research on Landscape-scale processes:

The variable contribution of woodlands and forests to UK landscapes was highlighted, together with the magnitude of past changes and possible future changes in landscapes. It is important to understand the landscape context of the woodland, adjacent woodland, and other land use matrix. There was little knowledge of the key factors controlling woodland bird populations at the landscape scale, and a need to understand the role of other land uses (including farmland and urban areas). Research opportunities using a variety of approaches (Survey and monitoring, Review, Modelling, Autecology/synecology, Experimental manipulation/ testing solutions) were identified (Appendix 4).

The key point to emerge was the lack of understanding of how past landscape change has affected woodland birds, and therefore a difficulty in predicting the impact of future landscape change on woodland bird populations. Improved knowledge was required to develop strategies for managing landscapes of variable composition for woodland birds.

Joint conclusions on woodland bird research:

There were a number of common conclusions concerning future research:

It should be firmly linked to practical woodland and landscape management;
It should not focus solely on lowland broad-leaved woodlands as upland forests provide unique and extensive habitats that have been under-researched;
It should not be restricted to threatened or declining species, or to priority Species Action Plan Species;
It should be informed by recent and current shifts in woodland management (e.g. increased continuous cover management, changing proportion of early seral stages, increased recreation and public access) which in themselves provide research opportunities;
It should be informed by the likely extent and character of future forests within the UK landscape, including the influence of woodland restoration, increased area of farm woodlands; defragmentation through new planting; impacts of declining profitability;
There are a number of important effects occurring at scales outwith the scope of this workshop, notably climate change and the conditions in over-wintering and migration habitats abroad.

Recommendations To FRCC Members

The FRCC and its constituent bodies were asked to consider the following recommendations:

Woodland birds are an important component of woodland biodiversity, and offer a tractable topic for research. Decline in woodland birds is of political and public concern, acknowledged in their inclusion within UK Government and individual agency targets for action. Birds may provide a valuable indicator of general ecosystem health and well being, and an indicator that is accessible and understood by the public. FRCC are invited to acknowledge the importance of further research in woodland birds.
There are very substantial gaps in knowledge of the autecology of woodland birds, and of the interaction between stand and landscape level processes and bird populations. This lack of understanding prevents a diagnosis of current population trends, the necessary policy and management responses to them, and the potential impact of changes in woodland management to meet other objectives. A very substantial research agenda has been identified. FRCC members are asked to increase funding for these research areas.
The research programme on farmland birds provides a useful model, and indicates the need for substantial support to be dedicated to the full cycle of quantification, diagnosis, cure and monitoring. FRCC members are asked to explore funding mechanisms that will provide the necessary coherent effort.
There is scope for further refinement of the research agenda in dialogue between interested parties. FRCC could lead this debate, the prioritisation, and the linkage of funders and researchers. FRCC are asked to initiate further debate.
An understanding of recent changes in woodland character, and likely future forest composition, extent and location in the landscape is needed to underpin much of the autecological, stand and landscape-level research. This seems to be currently lacking. FRCC are asked to consider the place for this.

FRCC Response

This paper and recommendations were presented to FRCC at its meeting of 5 November 2003. The Committee were concerned by the apparent decline in woodland bird populations at least in some areas, and acknowledged the need to understand these changes and their causes more clearly. Disappointment was expressed that data from voluntary bird watching and other environmental/biodiversity networks is not of greater value in identification of the underlying causes of change. The Committee agreed that the research priority is highlighted by the inclusion of woodland birds as a Quality of Life indicator, a PSA target, and in recent corporate plans for FC England and FC Wales. However, there is also some concern that the indicator might now need to be refined (more focussed) in order to be effective.

The Countryside Survey will look at bird populations and the new contract ‘Long term changes in populations of woodland birds’ let to RSPB/BTO by a funding partnership (Defra, EN, FC, Woodland Trust, RSPB and BTO) was welcomed. It is likely that as the Welsh, English and Scottish forestry strategies have a greater influence on FC research priorities, new work may be requested on woodland birds. DARD are interested in seeing that Northern Ireland is included in future woodland bird surveys and in establishing suitable baseline monitoring. The Environmental Research Funders Forum is currently seeking to identify key UK databases (those in existence, and those required) and bird populations may be an appropriate subject.. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) may be a valuable source of funding to pursue concerns over the fate of migratory birds. There is scope for the modelling of forests in the landscape on the basis of new woodland inventory data and known targeting of future grants. Initial indications of future forest composition are available from current work which combines UK Climate Impacts Programme scenarios of future climate with Ecological Site Classification.

FRCC welcomed the five recommendations made to it and, in particular, is able to agree the importance of further research on woodland birds. The case for prioritising woodland bird research would be strengthened if there were more evidence of the degree to which woodland birds reflect requirements of other woodland groups and interests. There is also a view that future research should be focused on landscape and habitat changes rather than specific species. While the comparisons with past research on farmland birds are valuable in highlighting the need for coherent effort, it was felt that the situation with woodland birds may be more complex, and be less susceptible to identification of core cause-effect-solution. FRCC does not allocate research funds itself, but a number of FRCC’s member organisations will consider the findings of this workshop as priorities for future research are determined. FRCC will raise woodland birds in its discussions with the newly formed UK Biodiversity Research Advisory Group and will also alert those members not present on 5 November to the discussions held.
Acknowledgements
FRCC would like to thank the co-organisers of the workshop (Richard Brand-Hardy, Keith Kirby, Phil Grice and Ken Smith and in particular Chris Quine who took the lead), the speakers (Jane Goodwin, Rob Fuller, and Gordon Patterson), and those who attended and contributed so positively. Thanks also to Liz Luttrell and Margaret Plews for the excellent administrative and domestic arrangements.

Chris Quine and Peter Freer-Smith
February 2000
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