Rutland Breeding Bird Atlas 2008 - 2011

I purchased a copy of this excellent record during my recent visit to Uppingham in Rutland. The edition published in 1992 documented the county's breeding birds as part of the BTO's "The New Atlas of Breeding Birds of Britain & Ireland 1988 - 1991". Recording for "Bird Atlas 2007 - 2011" stimulated fieldwork for this update. All 117 Rutland tetrads were visited. Where timed visits were made interested observers submitted lists of species breeding in their local area. The results were mapped at two levels, 'Present' and 'Breeding' to enable direct comparisons to be made with the 1988 - 1990 survey. The changes which have occurred are in some cases dramatic.

 
For example, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor was recorded as present in 11 tetrads during 1988 - 1990 and only 4 tetrads during 2008 - 2011. The future does not look at all promising for this species, not only in Rutland but elsewhere in Britain.

This book represents a scholarly work for any keen ornithologist, not just for those interested in the Rutland area. It makes for very interesting reading for anyone interested in birds, recording as it does the decline in numbers of so many of our resident and migrant birds. There are lessons to be learned here in biodiversity and habitat conservation. Terry Mitcham deserves our thanks for compiling this important breeding bird atlas.