The Devon Bird Atlas 2016 - unveiled today at Stover Park, near Newton Abbot - shows that since the first Atlas was published in 1988 eight species have disappeared from the county and 60 have suffered declines. The nightingale, much-loved for its beautiful song, has been lost as a breeding bird in Devon. "It is a great sadness that this wonderful songster may never be heard again in Devon," the reports authors warn. Other birds facing serious declines include the cuckoo which has seen one of the largest declines since the publication of the first Atlas in 1988. It now breeds in only 372 tetrads (2km x 2km squares on the map) compared to 1,447 in the 1977–1985 survey. Breeding Cuckoos are now almost exclusively confined to Dartmoor. The reduction in Lapwing numbers is particularly striking in Devon. Previously widespread across the county, this latest survey shows that breeding is now restricted to just two sites - the Exe Estuary RSPB reserves and southern Dartmoor. Skylarks have seen a huge decline from being recorded as breeding in 93% of the county of Devon in 1988 to only 63% during the 2007–2013 survey period.
Read more: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/New-atlas-Devon-birds-shows-drastic…
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