All CategoriesWild BirdsRare birds on the rise!

Protecting and preserving rare bird species is something that we at Homefeeds believe is very important, not only for the local ecology, but for the enjoyment of any gardener or birdwatcher.

The early results from a major farmland bird count are in, revealing several sightings of rare bird species. Of the 117 birds sighted in the study, 14 were at-risk species, including the linnet, the yellowhammer, the starling and the lapwing. The studies organisers called the results remarkable. If you would like more information about the study, click here.

For the birdwatcher, the potential of seeing rare birds is an exciting prospect, especially with farmland birds at their lowest levels since records began. Modern intensive farming methods have seen a number of bird species down more than 85%, as they create a lack of seed for the birds to feed on.

According to the Birds of Conservation Concern publication, there are 246 species of bird which occur regularly in the UK and the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands with 37 of these species considered to be facing extinction in the European Union.

They are split into three categories – the Critically Endangered, the Endangered and the Vulnerable

The Critically Endangered: Balearic Shearwater.

The Endangered: Arctic Skua, Bewick’s Swan, Black-tailed Godwit, Eider, Kittiwake, Ruff and Turnstone.

And the Vulnerable: Aquatic Warbler, Black Guillemot, Brambling, Common Pochard, Curlew, Curlew Sandpiper, Eurasian Wigeon, Fieldfare, Fulmar, Garganey, Great Northern Diver, Herring Gull, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Leach’s Petrel, Long-tailed Duck, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Pintail, Ptarmigan, Red Grouse, Red-breasted Merganser, Redshank, Redwing; Scaup, Slavonian Grebe, Twite, Velvet Scoter and Willow Tit.

Whilst many farmers manage their land in a way that benefits the local wildlife, as gardeners and bird enthusiasts, we can do our bit to reverse the trend of species decline, as well as encourage rare birds into our gardens.

To that end, we here at Homefeeds have in stock a wide variety of bird feed and seed, so that you can help to protect, and enjoy, these rare animals.