Bird Atlas book and results available

I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch of the Bird Atlas 2007-11: The breeding and wintering birds of Britain and Ireland, held at the premises of the Royal Society near Trafalgar Square on 21st.

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It was great to see all six authors signing copies of the book (mine was too heavy to take down with me unfortunately), and to meet up with lots of other BTO activists, both staff and volunteers. As this latest Bird Atlas for Britain and Ireland is the third breeding Atlas and the second winter Atlas, the species accounts have lots of maps showing changes in breeding distribution and abundance over 20 and 40 years, and winter distribution changes since 1981-84 (the previous winter Atlas).

Headline findings from the book were released on 25th November. Read the British Trust for Ornithology's press releases to find out more about colonisation of Collared Dove in Wales, the Great Spotted Woodpecker now in Ireland (used to be no woodpeckers there at all!) and the rapid decline of many Scottish breeding waders, like Lapwing and Curlew. This decline is also causing concern here in Wales.

Geoff Gibbs, chair of Natur Cymru