Key findings
- In 2003, we conducted the first Breeding Woodcock Survey with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), the first accurate assessment of the species breeding population size.
- In 2013, we conducted a repeat survey of this survey, to update our population estimate and measure changes in distribution and abundance since 2003.
- The number of wooded 1x1 km² squares at which breeding woodcock were present, dropped from 35% in 2003, to 22% in 2013.
- In 2013, we estimated the breeding woodcock population for Britain as 55,241 males, representing a reduction of 29% over 10 years.
The woodcock was ‘amber-listed’ as a bird of conservation concern in 2002 because of a long-term decline in breeding numbers and range. However, the species’ population size was unknown at the time and a crude estimate suggested just 5,000-12,500 ‘pairs’. In 2003, we teamed up with the BTO to conduct the first national survey of breeding woodcock, employing a species-specific counting method. Over 800 randomly-selected 1x1 km² squares were surveyed for breeding woodcock, and counts were used to estimate male densities and regional population sizes. This initial survey gave a total population estimate of 78,350 males for Britain.
Although this new, more accurate population estimate was larger than any previous estimates, we were still concerned about the likely trend in woodcock numbers. In 2013, the survey was repeated. Again, volunteers visited sites across Britain, making 2-3 dusk counts at each site. Based on this nationwide sample, woodcock were calculated to be present at 22% of squares containing more than 10 hectares of woodland. Northern Scotland and northern and eastern England remained stronghold areas, with between 33% and 50% of wooded squares supporting at least one roding woodcock. The lowest occupancy levels were recorded in Wales (5%), south Midlands (7%) and south-west England (6%).
| |
2003 |
2013 |
|
| Region |
Total |
Lower
95% CL |
Upper
95% CL |
Total |
Lower
95% CL |
Upper
95% CL |
% change |
| North Scotland |
24,088 |
14,640 |
34,633 |
23,913 |
14,796 |
33,478 |
-0.7 |
| South Scotland |
15,163 |
6,110 |
28,075 |
6,185 |
2,023 |
11,095 |
-59.2 |
| Northern England |
7,169 |
4,192 |
10,469 |
5,808 |
2,420 |
11,125 |
-18.2 |
| North Midlands |
5,139 |
2,998 |
7,612 |
3,806 |
1,188 |
7,890 |
-25.9 |
| Eastern England |
6,811 |
3,011 |
11,712 |
4,562 |
1,771 |
8,148 |
-33.0 |
| East Anglia |
3,485 |
1,747 |
5,794 |
1,791 |
1,201 |
2,465 |
-48.6 |
| South Midlands |
1,123 |
520 |
1,820 |
890 |
277 |
1,719 |
-20.8 |
| Wales |
1,767 |
541 |
3,259 |
914 |
119 |
1,900 |
-48.3 |
| South-West England |
2,234 |
774 |
4,147 |
939 |
311 |
1,683 |
-58.0 |
| Central South |
6,586 |
4,506 |
9,124 |
3,928 |
2,553 |
5,490 |
-40.4 |
| South-East England |
4,782 |
2,480 |
7,785 |
2,507 |
1,046 |
4,396 |
-47.6 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| England |
37,328 |
30,101 |
44,089 |
24,229 |
17,563 |
32,239 |
-35.1 |
| Scotland |
39,251 |
24,173 |
56,632 |
30,098 |
19,664 |
41,015 |
-23.3 |
| Wales |
1,767 |
541 |
3,259 |
914 |
119 |
1,900 |
-48.3 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Britain |
78,346 |
61,717 |
96,493 |
55,241 |
41,806 |
69,004 |
-29.5 |
We estimated the 2013 breeding woodcock population in Britain to be 55,241 males. This represents a 29% decline in numbers from the 2003 estimate of 78,350. The Scottish population estimate declined from around 40,000 to 30,000 males, though the vast majority of these losses were observed in southern Scotland. In England, the population estimate fell from 37,328 to 24,299 males, representing a loss of 35%. The Welsh breeding population was low in both survey years at only 1,767 and 914 males in 2003 and 2013 respectively.
The survey is being repeated in 2023 to provide a more up-to-date assessment of population size and distribution since the last national surveys. Annual monitoring at a subsample of the survey sites has continued from 2003 and 2013. This shows a continuation of the broadly downward trend, but with some levelling off in more recent years. This small scale monitoring, however, covers around 150 sites a year, and is no substitute for the much larger and more representative decennial survey.