The Breeding Bird Survey Report and WBBS population trends

The latest BBS report includes an annual update of population trends, specifically along waterways, for 28 species with the strongest association with that habitat type. Trends are derived from the entire WBBS data sets, and date back to 1999.

A full summary of the 2024 WBBS season and the latest WBBS population trends can be found in the WBBS pages (pages 33-35) of the Breeding Bird Survey Report. 

These trends are also available for download in spreadsheet format: UK - BTO/JNCC/RSPB - WBBS Trends 2024

• The table shows the percentage changes in bird populations during the specified periods. Trends for species in brackets are reported with caveats: Cormorant, Grey Heron and Common Tern are reported with the caveat that counts may contain a high proportion of birds away from breeding sites. 

The report shows that, of the 28 species for which we produce waterway-specific trends, 16 are declining either over 23 years or 10 years. On the other hand, Greylag Goose, Mandarin Duck, Goosander, Cetti’s Warbler and Sand Martin have shown signs of increase over either of those time periods.  

The report also focuses on the plight of Dipper, an iconic species of fast-flowing streams and rivers of the north and west of the UK. Dippers have decreased by 32% in the period 1999–2023 and by 31% alone between 2023 and 2024. Being specialists of waterways, Dipper are an important indicator of the health of our rivers, and the latest data highlight the existing concerns on water quality and the condition of riparian habitats in the UK.

BirdTrends and WBBS

BirdTrends contains information on methodology details and a discussion of each species - for which we produce WBBS trends - in a broader context.