A new study has found that the increasing use of pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural land is the main reason for the decline of many bird species across Europe. Using data from 28 countries over a span of 37 years, researchers discovered that common bird species showed an overall decline of 25% across the continent. Agricultural bird species faced severe decline, dropping by more than half (56.8%) from the start of the research period, which ran from 1980 to 2016. Forest-dwelling bird populations decreased by 18%, urban birds by 28%, northern birds that prefer cooler climates by 40%, and southern birds that favor warmer climates by 17%.
The study, which included over 50 researchers and was published in the journal PNAS, revealed that modern intensive agricultural practices, featuring pesticides and fertilizers, are responsible for the decline in bird populations across the continent. Birds that rely on insects for food, such as the common swift, the spring peeper, and the spotted flycatcher, were found to be in the worst condition.
Researchers also identified direct relationships between the decline in bird populations and other human pressures, such as reduced forest cover, urbanization, and rising temperatures due to climate change. James Haywood, the national organizer of the bird breeding survey, stated, "The decline of birds in agricultural areas across Europe is one of the key observations from this study, particularly its widespread nature. What was also highlighted is how little forest area the UK retains compared to our continental neighbors. However, the study shows that a slight increase in forest cover can hide other changes, particularly in the quality and nature of forests."
