Startling decline in European birds

http://www.sciencedail​y.com …/2014/11/141102​212122.htm

I am inclined to think that reports such as this, including similar reports for the Americas, are literally the alarm call of the canary in the coal mine. As the globe becomes less habitable for other species, it ultimately becomes less habitable for us.
Al

Interesting how house sparrows and starlings are declining in Europe, while as invasive species here in North America, the are thriving to the detriment of native passerines.

Actually the trends for the House Sparrow in North America are mirroring other parts of the world though to a lesser extent.

The same cannot be said for te European Starling though. It is doing just fie here.

I'm not surprised in the slightest by these findings as I can see this happening year on year with a reduction in the population of some birds. On the other hand though some species look to be going the opposite way and seem to be doing well. Magpies, Wood Pigeon and Gold Finch all seem to be doing really well and increasing in numbers.

I'm not sure that it's global warming to blame as the birds that are suffering did well further south where temperatures were higher than they are where I live and where I see them struggle. Habitat loss down to an increasing population or farming techniques are probably more to blame than rising or changing temperatures.

Mick_R wrote in post #17327168
Habitat loss down to an increasing population or farming techniques are probably more to blame than rising or changing temperatures.

It's not down to an increasing population, it's down to building on greenfield rather than brownfield sites, which is a different issue.