The number of swallows in Portugal has decreased by 40% in the last 20 years, according to information released today by the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA).
In a statement released, SPEA states “these numbers show a drop representative of the generalized decline of several species of long-distance migratory birds: cuckoo, barrete shrike and turtle dove, for example, also saw their numbers decline not only in Portugal , but also in Spain and Europe in general.”
The Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds considers that “If nothing changes, we will soon have to find another symbol for the arrival of Spring” warning that “Migratory birds such as swallows have suffered from climate change, which affects everything from signs that these species use to initiate migration to the abundance of insects they need to feed their young.”
In addition to migratory birds, birds common in agricultural areas, such as the sparrow, the kestrel and the milheirinha, have been in decline in the last 20 years, explains the note, especially “due to the intensification of agricultural practices, which have been artificializing our fields, destroying the traditional mosaics that allowed biodiversity to flourish.”
To halt these declines, SPEA considers “it is necessary to restore Nature, implement policies that promote sustainable agricultural practices, and adopt a strategic and long-term vision in spatial planning, energy development, and impact assessments.”
The data now known results from the Common Bird Census Program, a long-term monitoring program for common nesting birds and their habitats in Portugal. In this annual count that has been running for 20 years, hundreds of volunteers systematically collect data on the presence of different species.
Photo: Tudo Bahia
