Many species of once common and widespread breeding bird species in the UK have reduced in numbers and range in recent decades, such that they are now red-listed in the UK Government’s conservation appraisal scheme.

Many think that the cause of these declines has been habitat loss, especially on our farmed land and this is indeed the case. But for some species, when the habitat is improved and bird numbers are expected to recover and increase, this is not the case. They don’t! So what else is going on and preventing these birds from recovering?

This talk will outline the evidence from several rigorous, scientific experiments which examined how some red-listed  bird species reacted when common predatory species were legally removed. The role of predator control will be discussed as well as alternative non-lethal methods of predator management that could be used to lessen the impact of these predators.

Professor Nick Sotherton is a recently retired Director at an independent research and education charity based in Hampshire. After a degree in Agricultural Zoology from Newcastle University and a PhD from Southampton University, Nick has 43 years of experience on conservation issues. He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society and has been responsible for a team of 60 scientists working on conservation issues with UK wildlife. His research interests involve practical solutions to problems that can be used by farmers and land managers alike. He has been closely involved with the UK Government as it develops reformed schemes to subsidise farmers post Brexit. Nick has recently moved to Rottingdean to be close to his first granddaughter.