Swallows, swifts and house martins were once a common sight over UK towns and cities, dextrously catching insects on the wing. But these spring and summer visitors are becoming increasingly rare, according to the definitive survey of the country’s birds.
Populations of these insect-eating birds have dropped by 40% or more in the past decade, according to the latest Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) report.
The decline of insects means there is less food around for these birds and their chicks.
Farmland and woodland birds are also in decline, with the turtle dove – which was once a common sight on agricultural land – showing a reduction in numbers of 97% since 1995. It is now so rare experts can no longer monitor it effectively. Other farmland birds such as grey partridge, lapwing and curlew have all seen their numbers at least halve during the same period.