Jackdaw of Britain and Ireland

The Jackdaw, Corvus monedula, is a fairly common and familiar bird in the woods, farmland and towns of Britain and Ireland.

The population of Jackdaws has been increasing in Britain since the 1960s. Their numbers have also risen in Ireland where they are one of the commonest garden birds.

Jackdaws are the smallest members of the crow family. Adults are all black from head to claw with a purple sheen on the back and a grey neck. Juveniles resembled adults although brown eyes which are blue-grey in adults.

Adults begin breeding when they are 2 years of age. The typical lifespan of Jackdaws is 5 years although they can live longer.

“It’s not too unusual for some birds to start going grey in old age” ( Discover Wildlife – see below).

Jawdaws are sociable birds who are usually seen in pairs or large flocks throughout the year. They have adapted to living in a wide range of habitats

Typical haunts include open woodland, farmland, the sides of mountains and sea cliffs, pastures, parks, gardens, towns and villages.

Gardens are mostly used as foraging areas during the breeding season, particularly in June. “Almost half of garden birdwatchers in Wales report seeing Jackdaws, compared to only 23% in England" 
(BTO - https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u23/images/Ambassadors/amanda_skull/14-06%20Jackdaw.pdf ).

Jackdaws will scavenge anything edible. Their diet includes carrions, seeds, berries, insects, earthworms, invertebrates, small mammals and the eggs and young of other birds.

Thrown away food on the streets of towns, villages and city centres are a valuable source of nourishment. Some tear open rubbish bags or raid bins. Scraps left on garden tables are also eaten.

Foraging takes place on the ground where they can be seen walking rapidly and running, or sometimes hopping.

Jackdaws are often found on grassland and pastures where sheep and cattle are grazing. Some Jackdaws search for food along the seashore.

Jackdaws are resident birds in Britain and Ireland who form communal roosts during the year. They are fairly common birds who are found in most areas throughout the year.

The Scottish Highlands and the mountainous regions of the west of Ireland have fewer Jackdaws.
Jackdaws tend to stay near their breeding colonies during the winter and regularly visit their nest sites.

Those living in southern Britain rarely move 40 kilometres or 25 miles from their colonies.

Northern Jackdaws leave higher ground between September and November and often travel 100 kilometres, or 62 miles, from their breeding grounds.

Some wintering Jackdaws from Europe and Scandinavia arrive in Britain in the autumn. The wintering movements of European Jackdaws is generally unknown.

Research from Exeter University found Jackdaws join together to drive away predators by “mobbing” them  (Irish News: https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/science/2019/10/01/news/-mob-mentality-rules-jackdaw-flocks–1727613/ ).

Pairs form lifelong bonds who often join flocks of Rooks, Carrion Crows and Starlings in the winter.
Jackdaws are an abundant breeding species in Britain and Ireland. Pair nest in small colonies during the breeding season which begins in late April.

They are noisy birds, particularly around their breeding colonies. Their call is a harsh-sounding “jack-jack”.

Nests are built in holes in trees, crevices in cliffs or man-made buildings. Some pairs use large nest boxes, chimneys and church towers.

Pairs make a nest of sticks lined with wool, hair and softer material.

Four or five pale blue eggs are laid in April and take between 18 and 20 days to hatch. The young stay in the nest and learn to fly after 30 days. Sadly, the smallest of the chicks rarely survive.

Jackdaws are dedicated parents who continue to care for their young for another week after leaving the nest.
The Jackdaw is classified as of Least Concern by IUCN.

The Jackdaw is a green-listed species of bird in Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

The population of Jackdaws has been increasing since the 1960s. Their numbers increased steadily in all parts of Britain between 1994 and 2009 except for eastern Scotland.

The population is continuing to rise in Britain in recent years except for Wales.

The European population of Jackdaws has remained stable since the 1980s (BTO – species: https://app.bto.org/birdtrends/species.jsp?year=2018&s=jackd ).

Woodland populations of Jackdaws in Britain have shown better breeding performance with larger broods being reared (RSPB Handbook of British Birds).

However, some research has shown Jackdaws “declined in woodland but increased slightly in farmland over the last 30 years” (R.D. Gregory and J.H. Marchant – page 10: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00063659609460993 ).

There are approximately 1.4 million pairs of Jackdaws in Britain and 210,000 in the Republic of Ireland.

Jackdaws are one of the top-twenty garden birds in Ireland.

The main threat to Jackdaws is persecution. However, the increase in their population is due primarily to their adaptability and generalist diet.

For more information on the birds of the gardens and countryside of Britain and Ireland, please visit,
http://bird4u.mzzhost.com/index.html

Interesting Articles 
Discover Wildlife - https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/facts-about-jackdaws/

BTO - The crow next ‘daw’:Jackdaw: 
https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/shared_documents/gbw/associated_files/bird-table-70-jackdaw-article.pdf

Wryneck: a Rare Bird of Britain

The Wryneck, Jynx torquilla, is a type of woodpecker that became extinct as a breeding species in Britain in 2002. A small number of Scandinavian Wrynecks visit the coasts of England during the spring and autumn.

Wrynecks are common birds in Europe. Sadly, the population of Wrynecks has more than halved in Europe since the 1980s.

Adults are about the size of a sparrow with grey plumage that has brown and buff mottling. There is a noticeable black line that runs from the back of the head on the back.  

Wrynecks belong to the Woodpecker family of birds. They earned their name because they can turn its head nearly 360 degrees.  

The typical habitats of Wrnecks are dry places where there is plenty of sunlight and a few trees.

Wrynecks are common birds in open woodland, forest clearings, wooded pastures, vineyards, old orchards, cemeteries, meadows and fallow land.

They avoid damp vegetation and the higher ground of mountains.  

The plumage of Wrynecks allows them to blend in easily with their natural surroundings and are difficult to see.

The main diet of Wrynecks is ants although they also eat insects and invertebrates.  

Wrynecks forage for ants and other food by probing into the ground with their long bills.

Foraging normally takes place on bare ground or where there is little or no vegetation. They can reach ants beneath the ground with their long, sticky tounges.  

Wrynecks do not often climb trees or search for food among the branches.

They are common and widespread birds in most of Europe, particularly in Scandinavia and Estonia, Bulgaria and Romania Eastern Europe.  

A small number of Scandinavian Wrynecks stop briefly along the coasts of southern and eastern Britain in the autumn on the way to their wintering grounds south of the Sahara Desert in Africa. The autumn migration takes place between August and October.

A few visit gardens where they search for food for a few days before flying off.

Fewer Wrynecks pass over Britain in the spring while travelling to their breeding areas in Scandinavia.  

Wrynecks were also once common birds of open woodland, heaths, parks and large gardens until the late nineteenth century.  

The population was in “steep decline” by 1912 and was no longer present in Wales. Their numbers continued to dwindle until the 1950s as they were only found in the south-east of England.  

The last report of Wrynecks breeding in England was in 1985.

Wrynecks became extinct as a breeding species in England during the 1970s.  

A small number were discovered breeding in the pine forests of Scotland during the 1970s. Sadly, the Scottish population of Wrynecks eventually faltered by 2002.

“Wrynecks thus earn the unfortunate distinction of being the first once-widespread breeding species to be lost from the UK for nearly 200 years” (State of the Birds in the UK 2016 – page 19 - https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/publications/state-of-uk-birds-2016.pdf ).

Pairs do not make a nest but instead choose a natural cavity in a tree, an old woodpecker’s nest or nest box. Some take-over nests which are already being used by other birds.

Wrynecks make a hissing sound and move their necks in a snake-like movement to deter predators. They also use their threatening behaviour to drive away intruders near their nests.

Seven to twelve eggs are laid between May and June. Both parents look after the young and feed them ants.  

The Eurasian Wryneck is classified of Least Concern by IUCN.  

The number of Wrynecks has also declined in Europe with over half the population lost since the 1980s.  

Experts believe a lack of suitable food due to agricultural changes is the likely reason for the sharp drop in their numbers. The loss of old pastures also led to a scarcity of ants.

For more information on the birds of the gardens and countryside of Britain and Ireland, please visit,

http://bird4u.mzzhost.com/index.html

Masked Wagtail: A New Species of Rare Bird in Britain

The first sighting of a Masked Wagtail, Motacilla alba personata, was reported in the village of Camrose, near Haverfordwest in Wales during November 2016 (Western Telegraph - https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/14940254.first-masked-wagtail-in-the-uk-spotted-in-camrose-pembrokeshire/ ). 

Masked Wagtails are a sub-species of White Wagtails and normally found in Iran and Afganistan in Central Asia 

The British Birds Rarities Committee added the Masked Wagtail the British List of rare birds in 2018.

Adults have a black head with a small white mask, black crescent on the breast and white belly. The mantle of the male is black and is grey in the female.

Masked Wagtails are common breeding birds in Central Asia in areas such as northern Iran, southern Russia, north-eastern China, India, northern Pakistan, Kashmir, western Mongolia the Himilayas in Central Asia.

They spend the winter Iran and eastern Saudi Arabia and the Indian Subcontinent (Birds of Oman - http://www.birdsoman.com/Birds/118-Pipits/MaskedWagtail/MaskedWagtail.htm ).

The main diet of the Masked Wagtail is a wide variety of insects and their larvae which are caught in the air or the ground.

Breeding takes place along rocky rivers and streams, usually on higher ground in mountains and deserts. Pairs are monogamous and build their nests in cavities in rocky places, among stones, riverbanks, under bridges and holes in walls.

Three and seven eggs are laid between April and July and hatch after 2 weeks. The young learn to fly after 14 to 17 days. Both parents look after the young and normally rear two broods a year.

Masked Wagtails differ from their cousins, White Wagtails, as the female builds a nest alone for the second brood while the male tends to the young from the first brood.

They leave for their wintering grounds in the autumn, or between mid-August and mid-September.

Wintering Masked Wagtails prefer to live around open areas of water although they forage for food on lawns, ploughed fields, pastures, around villages in the countryside and cities. Some join flocks of White Wagtails during the winter.

A rare sighting of a Masked Wagtail was reported in Kuwait in 2012 and only the second of its kind in the country.

A Masked Wagtail was also recorded along the Wenyu River also in 2012 and is the only second sighting of these birds in Beijing in China (Birding Beijing - https://birdingbeijing.com/tag/white-wagtail/).

Norway played host to a Masked Wagtail between November 2003 and April 2004.  A male Masked Wagtail was seen in Sweden in April 2006.

Sadly, there have no further sightings of Masked Wagtails in Britain since 2016.

For more information on the birds of the gardens and countryside of Britain and Ireland, please visit

http://bird4u.mzzhost.com/index.html

Wren of Britain and Ireland

http://bird4u.mzzhost.com/bird_wren.html

The Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes, is a small, lively bird who lives and breeds in shrubs, hedges and trees. They are the most common and numerous breeding bird in Britain and Ireland as they have adapted to living in nearly every habitat. Most people in Britain and Ireland are very fond of Wrens because of their tiny size and shy nature.

The Wren population has remained stable in recent years because of the mild winter weather. Sadly, the so-called “Beast from the East” in 2018 caused a significant drop in their numbers.

Other names for the Wren include the “British Wren”, “Jenny Wren”, “winter wren” (North America), Northern Wren and Eurasian Wren.

Wrens are busy little birds who spend their lives on their territories throughout the year. They have adapted to living in a wide variety of natural and man-made environments. Most prefer to remain hidden among the lower twigs and branches of shrubs, hedges and trees.

Woods and forests provide Wrens with thick vegetation where they can forage for food and make their nests. They are also found in hedgerows, farmland, scrubland, moors, heathland, sea cliffs, mountains, off-shore islands, parks and gardens. 

City centres and areas with extensive low vegetation such as grassy lawns are normally avoided.

Large numbers of Wrens die during the cold weather in winter, particularly when there are prolonged times of snow and ice. Their tiny size and a scarcity of insects during the cold winter weather can lead the loss of up to 80% of the population. Wrens soon recover as they produce large broods of chicks.

“Research published by the British Trust for Ornithology shows northern populations of the tiny songbird are more resilient in winter as they endure 70 per more frost days than are faced by their southern counterparts” (Express).

Gardens are particularly valuable foraging areas for wrens during the winter. “They can be aided in harsh weather with mealworms, finely broken breadcrumbs, oatmeal and grated cheese, but supplements should be scattered near low cover, as wrens don’t readily attend bird tables” (Countryfile).

The British Trust for Ornithology advised gardeners keep a compost heap and turn it over regularly so the insects inside may be easily found by wrens and other birds.

The Wren is classified as of Least Concern by IUCN.

The global population is not considered Vulnerable by conservationist groups because of the wide range of these birds (Eurasia).

Europe accounts for 5% to 24% of the global range. The Wren population in Europe was reported as increasing between 1980 and 2013 (Birdlife International).

The BTO said in 2009 that “The Wren’s current UK population estimate is the highest for any species”. The population can crash during prolonged winter weather as, for example, in the 1960s.

“Following a rapid recovery up to the mid 1970s, abundance fell again in response to a further series of cold winters, only to return to its previous high level”.

There were “minor decreases” in southern England between 1994 and 2009 although “strong increases” occurred in North Wales, northern England and mainland Scotland.

The charity also said there has been “widespread moderate increase across Europe since 1980” ( BTO - Trends).

The Wren is a green-listed species of bird in Britain.

The Breeding Bird Survey stated the population of Wrens:

• - declined by 5% between 1995 and 2011 ( RSPB)
• - declined by 4% between 2012/13 (BBS - page 17)
• - increased by 34% between 2013/14 (BBS - page 13)
• - declined by 1% between 2014/15 ( BBS - page 13)
• - increased by 9% between 2015/16 ( BBS - page 15)
• - increased by 1% between 2015/17 ( BBS - page 15)
• - declined by 21% between 2017/18 ( BBS - page 15)

The BTO said in 2018 that the “spell of fierce winter weather nicknamed the ‘Beast from the East’ in late February and early March 2018 hit some of the UK’s smallest resident bird species hard. Goldcrest declined by 38%…and Wren by 21% between 2017 and 2018” (BBS - page 14).

The WBBS report stated in 2018 that the top five most widespread species along waterways were “Wren which were recorded on 95% of stretches, Chaffinch and Woodpigeon on 94%, and Blackbird and Mallard on 93% of stretches” (BBS - same link above - page 32).

According to the State of the Birds in the UK 2017, “Resident species such as great tits, wrens and nuthatches appear to be benefitting from milder winters…trends for great tits and wrens show that increases have been greatest in Northern Ireland, followed by Scotland, with no significant difference between England and Wales”.

“These patterns are likely to be caused by overall population increases and improving climatic conditions in the north and west ( State of the Birds in the UK - page 14).

The RSPB said Wrens also enjoyed a slight range expansion in Scotland because of the mild winter weather in recent years (RSPB Handbook of Scottish Birds).

The Wren is also a green-listed species of bird in the Republic of Ireland.

A survey by Birdwatch in Ireland reported the population as stable and had increased between 1998 and 2010 (Countryside Bird Survey - page 6).

Wrens are susceptible to hypothermia during prolonged cold weather in winter, as in 2012 to 2013 (Guardian).