Dartford warbler is flying back! Rare bird is on the comeback trail after being close to extinction
Dartford warbler is flying back! Rare bird is on the comeback trail after getting perilously close to extinction
A British bird that once nearly disappeared from the UK has hit record numbers There were as few as 10 pairs of Dartford warblers left back in the 1960sNow that number has soared to above 180 pairs thanks to milder winters
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A British bird has made a dramatic comeback after being close to extinction.
The RSPB has just recorded 183 pairs of Dartford warblers – the highest number ever – up from only ten pairs in the 1960s.
The bird, which thrives in dense gorse on lowland heathland, is sensitive to the cold and was nearly wiped out by the ‘Big Freeze’ winter of 1962/63 when temperatures fell to -22.2C (-8F). But milder winters and efforts to restore heathland have seen it fare better. Thirty-seven pairs were spotted at RSPB Minsmere on the Suffolk coast last year, up from 23 pairs in 2019.
Eighty per cent of UK heathland, which supports a wide range of wildlife from birds to amphibians, has been lost since the 19th century as a result of land-use change.
The Dartford warbler (pictured on a gorse bush) once nearly went disappeared from the UK, with a few as 10 pairs being left after a cold winter, but now the RSPB has recorded 183 pairs
The bird is still regarded as an Amber List species, but can often be spotted near costal areas throughout the year
Mel Kemp, the warden at RSPB Minsmere, oversaw the heathland restoration at the site, including across 17 hectares of ex-coniferous plantation, and is delighted with the outcome.
He said: ‘We have seen a steady increase in the number of Dartford warblers, alongside other species relying on heathland habitats such as nightjar.
‘All the hard work of restoring this habitat has really paid off.’
Despite their gradually increasing numbers, Dartford warblers are still considered an amber listed species in terms of conservation status.
Rare birds like woodlark and nightjar also nest on heathland sites, which are often popular places to walk, cycle, horse ride and picnic.
