Breeding periods for selected bird species in England

Transcription

1 Breeding periods for selected bird species in England A. C. Joys & H. Q. P. Crick A report to JNCC British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU Registered Charity No

2 A. C. Joys & H. Q. P. Crick Breeding periods for selected bird species in England Published in by the British Trust for Ornithology The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU, U.K. ISBN Copyright British Trust for Ornithology 2004 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

3 CONTENTS Page no. LIST OF TABLES...3 LIST OF APPENDICES INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSION...13 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...14 REFERENCES...15 TABLES...17 APPENDICES

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5 LIST OF TABLES Page no. Table 3.1 Table 3.2 Table 3.3 Number of nest record cards from England for which first egg laying dates could be estimated...17 Number of nest record cards from England for which first fledging dates could be estimated %, 50%, 95% and 100% percentiles for first egg laying dates...21 Table 3.4 5%, 50%, 95% and 100% percentiles for fledging dates

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7 LIST OF APPENDICES Page no. APPENDIX 1 List of species considered for analysis and their conservation status...25 APPENDIX 2 Look up table for egg laying dates and fledging dates and equivalent calendar days...27 APPENDIX 3 Significance of the difference in median value for first egg laying date...29 APPENDIX 4 Significance of the difference in median value for fledging date...31 APPENDIX 5 5%, 50%, 95% and 100% percentiles for the first egg laying dates for those species which showed a significant difference in their median first egg laying dates between the GORs in England APPENDIX 6 5%, 50%, 95% and 100% percentiles for the fledging dates for those species which showed a significant difference in their median fledging dates between the GORs in England

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9 1. INTRODUCTION With the designation of large areas of bird breeding habitat as SSSI and, latterly, as SPA/Ramsar site, English Nature is increasingly called upon to assess the implications of proposed activities that may potentially affect breeding birds. Where such assessments are part of a formal request for consent, either from English Nature or a local planning authority, then reasonable justification for refusal will often be required. Additionally, under the Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA), all birds nests are protected and it is an offence to take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. Furthermore, for certain rare and vulnerable species (listed on WCA Schedule 1) it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb birds while nest building or at or near a nest with eggs or young. Clearly, when advising on the implications of activities under SSSI/SPA legislation or under Part 1 of the WCA, it is important to have reliable information on bird breeding periods. At present, assessments of activities affecting breeding birds are made with reference to the available published information on bird breeding periods (for example Birds of the Western Palaearctic). However, this approach has several limitations: firstly, as the breeding period is generally defined as the period between earliest egg-laying and latest fledging, there is no information on the core period which holds the greatest proportion of breeding attempts; secondly, the period of breeding is likely to vary greatly depending on region, with birds in northern England breeding perhaps weeks later than those in the south; and finally, with climatic changes as a result of global warming, it is possible that breeding periods for many species are now earlier than they were at the time when standard reference texts were produced. For these reasons, this report carries out a review of current breeding periods for a selection of breeding bird species across a range of habitats throughout England. 7

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11 2. METHODS Data from the BTO s Nest Record Scheme (NRS) were used to identify breeding periods for the species listed in Appendix 1 using only Nest Record Cards (NRC) from England. However, analyses were not conducted for all species as sample sizes were too small and data was not available for some species for England (Red-throated Diver and shank). To identify breeding periods, the first egg laying date and first fledging dates were estimated for each NRC. Laying and fledging dates are generally not recorded on NRCs and have to be estimated by back-calculation, using information on the nest contents at each with reference to standard information on the timing of events within the nesting cycle (e.g. length of incubation and egg-laying periods, see Crick et al for details). For each nest a range of possible laying and fledging dates are calculated and the mid-point used when the range is less than 10 days. Sample sizes differ between egg laying and fledging date estimates for each species because the uncertainty in their estimation depends on the timing of the visits to a nest. (For example, if nest visits occur mainly at the end of the nesting cycle, then fledging dates will be more precisely measured than egg laying dates). Initially, only records after 1990 were included, but when there were less than 100 nest records, all records before 1990 were also included in the analysis to increase the sample size. For each species, 5, 50, 95 and 100 percentiles for first egg laying dates and fledging dates were used to identify the main breeding periods within the defined period (post-1990 or all records) where the sample size was greater than 50 estimable dates. When the sample of at least 100 records is available for the post-1990 period then percentiles are provided for this period only. In cases where the sample size is between 50 and 100 records for the post-1900 period then percentiles are provided for the entire time period also. A caveat of small sample size was placed on species with sample sizes of between 50 and 100 estimable dates. To ascertain whether breeding was significantly different between regions, a Kruskal-Wallis test (Sokal & Rohlf, 1981) was used on the median value for first egg laying date and fledging date. To ensure that there were sufficient samples within each region, all records were used in the analysis (pre- and post-1990) and regions were excluded from the test if they had less than 100 records. For some species this left only two regions and so the equivalent test was the Mann-Whitney U test. Results are reported for those species which showed a significant result for the regional analysis based on Government Office Regions (GORs). These English GORs follow long-established county boundaries and include varying number of counties and Unitary Authorities and can be viewed graphically at 9

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13 3. RESULTS The numbers of nest record cards for which first egg laying date and fledging dates could be estimated, and the years from which data were derived, are detailed in Table 3.1 and 3.2 respectively. This includes all species for which there was at least one estimable laying or fledging date. There were seven species which were not considered in the analysis for first egg laying date as they had less then 50 estimable dates: Hen Harrier, Buzzard, Dunlin, Short-eared Owl, Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Sand Martin. There were also seven species which were excluded from the analysis for fledging dates as they had less then 50 estimable dates or are nidifugous; Mute Swan, Hen Harrier, Moorhen, Lapwing, Dunlin, Woodpecker and Raven. There were no nest record cards in England available for Red-Throated Diver and shank. The 5, 50, 95 and 100 percentiles for the first egg laying date and fledging date for England as a whole are given in Table 3.3 and 3.4 for those species which had 50 or more nest record cards. Both first egg laying dates and fledging dates are expressed as numbers of days since 1 January (see Appendix 2 for a look-up table). Appendices 3 and 4 gives the results of the significance test on the median first egg laying date and fledging date respectively for all those species which had sufficient sample size in at least two GORs. Forty-eight out of 64 species analysed showed a significant difference in first egg laying date between GORs, and 51 species out of 68 analysed showed a significant difference in fledging date between GORs. For those species which had a significant difference in median first egg laying date and fledging date, 5, 50, 95 and 100% percentiles are given for each GOR for first egg laying date and fledging date in appendices 5 and 6 respectively. 11

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15 4. CONCLUSION In assessing breeding periods for a large proportion of species in England, it would seem desirable to use the results from the BTO s Nest Record Scheme at the level of the individual GOR; for the majority of species where sample size allowed there was significant differences in the median first egg laying date and median fledging date between GORs. For the other species it is unclear as to whether breeding periods based on each individual GOR may be more accurate than a national breeding period for England as samples sizes were too small for a robust analysis at the present time. Breeding periods based on first egg laying dates and fledging dates can be determined for England based on the availability of percentiles for first egg laying dates for 87 species and for 97 species for fledging dates. For fledging dates, 63 species had sufficient sample size to enable the restriction of the analysis to those cards obtained after For first egg laying date, this is restricted to 61 species. 13

16 5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are particularly grateful to the thousands of volunteer nest recorders who, over the years, have contributed their records to the NRS. We are also grateful to Alan Drewitt for his help with the project. The NRS is funded under the JNCC/BTO partnership that the JNCC undertakes on behalf of English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, Countryside Council for Wales and the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland. We are grateful to Angela Rickard for her expertise in formatting and presenting the report. 14

17 6. REFERENCES Crick, H.Q.P., Baillie, S.R. & Leech, D.I. (2003) The UK Nest Record Scheme: its value for science and conservation. Bird Study 50: Sokal, R. R. & Rohlf, F. J. (1981) Biometry, 2 nd Edition. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York. 15

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19 Table 3.1 Number of nest record cards from England for which first egg laying dates could be estimated and years for which data were derived for all species for the post 1990 period and for all records, indicating years used in the analysis and period of records (NA means species not included in analysis). Species No. records within period Period/s used in analysis Years from which data derived for Caveats based on sample sizes Post 1990 All analysis Post 1990 All Grey Heron post Mute Swan both * Hen Harrier NA Sparrowhawk post Buzzard 8 32 NA Kestrel post Merlin both * Hobby all * Peregrine all * Moorhen post Oystercatcher post Ringed Plover post Golden Plover all Lapwing post Dunlin 3 28 NA Snipe both * Curlew all Redshank post Common Sandpiper all Stock Dove post Collared Dove post Turtle Dove post Barn Owl all * Little Owl post Tawny Owl both * Long-eared Owl all * Short-eared Owl 2 11 NA Nightjar post Kingfisher all * Woodpecker NA Great Spotted Woodpecker all * Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 6 20 NA Woodlark post Skylark post Sand Martin 8 35 NA Swallow post Tree Pipit post Meadow Pipit post Rock Pipit both * Yellow Wagtail all Grey Wagtail post Pied Wagtail post Dipper post Wren post Dunnock post Robin post Nightingale all Redstart post

20 Table 3.1 First egg laying date continued. Species No. records within period Post 1990 All Period/s used in analysis Years from which data derived for analysis Caveats based on sample sizes Post 1990 Whinchat post Stonechat post Wheatear all Ring Ouzel both * Blackbird post Song Thrush post Mistle Thrush post Grasshopper Warbler both * Sedge Warbler post Reed Warbler post Lesser Whitethroat both * Whitethroat post Garden Warbler post Blackcap post Wood Warbler post Chiffchaff post Willow Warbler post Goldcrest all Spotted Flycatcher post Long-tailed Tit post Marsh Tit post Willow Tit all * Blue Tit post Great Tit post Nuthatch post Treecreeper post Jay both * Magpie post Jackdaw post Rook post Carrion Crow post Raven all * Starling post House Sparrow post Tree Sparrow post Chaffinch post finch post Goldfinch post Linnet post Twite all Lesser Redpoll all Bullfinch post Yellowhammer post Cirl Bunting post Reed Bunting post Corn Bunting post All 18

21 Table 3.2 Number of nest record cards from England for which first fledging dates could be estimated and years for which data were derived for all species for the post 1990 period and for all records, indicating years used in the analysis and period of records (NA means species not included in analysis). Species No. records within period Period/s used in analysis Post 1990 All Years from which data derived for analysis Caveats based on sample sizes Post 1990 Grey Heron post Mute Swan 1 NA Hen Harrier NA Sparrowhawk post Buzzard all Kestrel post Merlin post Hobby both * Peregrine both * Moorhen NA Oystercatcher post Ringed Plover post Golden Plover all Lapwing NA Dunlin 3 30 NA Snipe post Curlew both * Redshank both * Common Sandpiper all * Stock Dove post Collared Dove post Turtle Dove post Barn Owl post Little Owl both * Tawny Owl post Long-eared Owl both * Short-eared Owl all * Nightjar post Kingfisher all Woodpecker NA Great Spotted Woodpecker all Lesser Spotted Woodpecker all * Woodlark post Skylark post Sand Martin all * Swallow post Tree Pipit post Meadow Pipit post Rock Pipit both * Yellow Wagtail both * Grey Wagtail post Pied Wagtail post Dipper post Wren post Dunnock post Robin post Nightingale all Redstart post All 19

22 Table 3.2 Fledging date continued. Species No. records within period Period/s used in analysis Post 1990 All Years from which data derived for analysis Caveats based on sample sizes Post 1990 Whinchat post Stonechat post Wheatear post Ring Ouzel both * * Blackbird post Song Thrush post Mistle Thrush post Grasshopper Warbler both * * Sedge Warbler post Reed Warbler post Lesser Whitethroat post Whitethroat post Garden Warbler post Blackcap post Wood Warbler post Chiffchaff post Willow Warbler post Goldcrest all * Spotted Flycatcher post Long-tailed Tit post Marsh Tit post Willow Tit all Blue Tit post Great Tit post Nuthatch post Treecreeper post Jay both * Magpie post Jackdaw post Rook post Carrion Crow post Raven NA Starling post House Sparrow post Tree Sparrow post Chaffinch post finch post Goldfinch post Linnet post Twite all Lesser Redpoll all Bullfinch post Yellowhammer post Cirl Bunting post Reed Bunting post Corn Bunting post All 20

23 Table 3.3 5%, 50%, 95% and 100% percentiles for first egg laying dates for those species analysed (>50 nest record cards from England). Species No. records Years data derived Percentiles for post 1990 Percentiles for all records Post 1990 All Post 1990 All Grey Heron Mute Swan Sparrowhawk Kestrel Merlin Hobby Peregrine Moorhen Oystercatcher Ringed Plover Golden Plover Lapwing Snipe Curlew Redshank Common Sandpiper Stock Dove Collared Dove Turtle Dove Barn Owl Little Owl Tawny Owl Long-eared Owl Nightjar Kingfisher Great Spotted Woodpecker Woodlark Skylark Swallow Tree Pipit Meadow Pipit Rock Pipit Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail Dipper Wren Dunnock Robin Nightingale Redstart Whinchat Stonechat Wheatear Ring Ouzel Blackbird Percentiles italicised represent those species with sample sizes between 50 and 100 nest record cards. Dates are number of days since 1 January (see Appendix 2 for conversion to calendar days). Species names in bold letter face have a significant difference in their median first egg laying date between the nine Government Office Regions (GOR) in England. For significance of the test and the percentiles at the GOR level see appendix 3 and 5 respectively. 21

24 Table 3.3 First egg laying dates continued. Species No. records Years data derived Percentiles for post 1990 Percentiles for all records Post 1990 All Post 1990 All Song Thrush Mistle Thrush Grasshopper Warbler Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler Lesser Whitethroat Whitethroat Garden Warbler Blackcap Wood Warbler Chiffchaff Willow Warbler Goldcrest Spotted Flycatcher Long-tailed Tit Marsh Tit Willow Tit Blue Tit Great Tit Nuthatch Treecreeper Jay Magpie Jackdaw Rook Carrion/Hooded Crow (unspecified) Raven Starling House Sparrow Tree Sparrow Chaffinch finch Goldfinch Linnet Twite Lesser Redpoll Bullfinch Yellowhammer Cirl Bunting Reed Bunting Corn Bunting Percentiles italicised represent those species with sample sizes between 50 and 100 nest record cards. Dates are number of days since 1 January (see Appendix 2 for conversion to calendar days). Species names in bold letter face have a significant difference in their median first egg laying date between the nine Government Office Regions (GOR) in England. For significance of the test and the percentiles at the GOR level see appendix 3 and 5 respectively. 22

25 Table 3.4 5%, 50%, 95% and 100% percentiles for fledging dates for those species analysed (>50 nest record cards from England). Species No. records Years data derived Percentiles for post 1990 Percentiles for all records Post 1990 All Post 1990 All Grey Heron Sparrowhawk Buzzard Kestrel Merlin Hobby Peregrine Oystercatcher Ringed Plover Golden Plover Snipe Curlew Redshank Common Sandpiper Stock Dove Collared Dove Turtle Dove Barn Owl Little Owl Tawny Owl Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Nightjar Kingfisher Great Spotted Woodpecker Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Woodlark Skylark Sand Martin Swallow Tree Pipit Meadow Pipit Rock Pipit Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail Dipper Wren Dunnock Robin Nightingale Redstart Whinchat Stonechat Percentiles italicised represent those species with sample sizes between 50 and 100 nest record cards. Dates are number of days since 1 January (see Appendix 2 for conversion to calendar days). Species names in bold letter face have a significant difference in their median fledging date between the nine Government Office Regions (GOR) in England. For significance of the test and the percentiles at the GOR level see appendix 4 and 6 respectively. 23

26 Table 3.4 Fledging dates continued. Species No. records Years data derived Percentiles for post 1990 Percentiles for all records Post 1990 All Post 1990 All Wheatear Ring Ouzel Blackbird Song Thrush Mistle Thrush Grasshopper Warbler Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler Lesser Whitethroat Whitethroat Garden Warbler Blackcap Wood Warbler Chiffchaff Willow Warbler Goldcrest Spotted Flycatcher Long-tailed Tit Marsh Tit Willow Tit Blue Tit Great Tit Nuthatch Treecreeper Jay Magpie Jackdaw Rook Carrion/Hooded Crow (unspecified) Starling House Sparrow Tree Sparrow Chaffinch finch Goldfinch Linnet Twite Lesser Redpoll Bullfinch Yellowhammer Cirl Bunting Reed Bunting Corn Bunting Percentiles italicised represent those species with sample sizes between 50 and 100 nest record cards. Dates are number of days since 1 January (see Appendix 2 for conversion to calendar days). Species names in bold letter face have a significant difference in their median fledging date between the nine Government Office Regions (GOR) in England. For significance of the test and the percentiles at the GOR level see appendix 4 and 6 respectively. 24

27 APPENDIX 1 List of species considered for analysis and their conservation status in the UK Red-throated Diver Grey Heron Mute Swan Hen Harrier Sparrowhawk Common Buzzard Kestrel Merlin Hobby Peregrine Moorhen Oystercatcher Ringed Plover Golden Plover Lapwing Dunlin Common Snipe Curlew Redshank shank Common Sandpiper Stock Dove Collared dove Turtle Dove Barn Owl Little Owl Tawny Owl Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Nightjar Kingfisher Woodpecker Gt. Spotted Woodpecker Ls. Spotted Woodpecker Woodlark Skylark Sand Martin Swallow Tree Pipit Meadow Pipit Rock Pipit Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail Dipper Wren Dunnock Robin Red Red Red Red Red Red Nightingale Redstart Whinchat Stonechat Wheatear Ring Ouzel Blackbird Song Thrush Mistle Thrush Grasshopper Warbler Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler Lesser Whitethroat Whitethroat Garden Warbler Blackcap Wood Warbler Chiffchaff Willow Warbler Goldcrest Spotted Flycatcher Long-tailed Tit Marsh Tit Willow Tit Blue Tit Great Tit Nuthatch Treecreeper Jay Magpie Jackdaw Rook Carrion Crow Raven Starling House Sparrow Tree Sparrow Chaffinch finch Goldfinch Linnet Twite Lesser Redpoll Bullfinch Yellowhammer Cirl Bunting Reed Bunting Corn Bunting Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Red 25

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29 APPENDIX 2 Look up table for egg laying dates and fledging dates and equivalent calendar days Date Day Month Date Day Month Date Day Month Date Day Month 1 to 31 January 32 to 59 February 60 1 March May July Sep 61 2 March May July Sep 62 3 March May July Sep 63 4 March May July Sep 64 5 March May July Sep 65 6 March May July Sep 66 7 March May July Sep 67 8 March May July Sep 68 9 March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Sep March May July Oct 91 1 April June Aug Oct 92 2 April June Aug Oct 93 3 April June Aug Oct 94 4 April June Aug Oct 95 5 April June Aug Oct 96 6 April June Aug Oct 97 7 April June Aug Oct 98 8 April June Aug Oct 99 9 April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct April June Aug Oct Aug 305 to 334 November 335 to 365 December 27

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31 APPENDIX 3 Significance of the difference in median value for first egg laying date between the nine Government Office Regions (GOR) in England (species names in bold letter face are significant at 0.05 level). Species Chi-square value No. of GOR P value regions Grey Heron <.0001 Mute Swan Sparrowhawk Kestrel Merlin Moorhen <.0001 Oystercatcher <.0001 Ringed Plover Lapwing Redshank Stock Dove Collared Dove Turtle Dove Nightjar <.0001 Woodlark Skylark <.0001 Swallow <.0001 Tree Pipit <.0001 Meadow Pipit <.0001 Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail Dipper Wren <.0001 Dunnock Robin <.0001 Redstart <.0001 Whinchat Stonechat Ring Ouzel <.0001 Blackbird <.0001 Song Thrush <.0001 Mistle Thrush <.0001 Grasshopper Warbler Sedge Warbler <.0001 Reed Warbler <.0001 Lesser Whitethroat Whitethroat Garden Warbler Blackcap Wood Warbler <.0001 Chiffchaff Willow Warbler <

32 APPENDIX 3 First egg laying date continued. Species Chi-square value No. of GOR P value regions Spotted Flycatcher Long-tailed Tit <.0001 Marsh Tit Blue Tit <.0001 Great Tit <.0001 Nuthatch Magpie <.0001 Jackdaw <.0001 Rook <.0001 Carrion Crow <.0001 Starling <.0001 House Sparrow <.0001 Tree Sparrow <.0001 Chaffinch <.0001 finch <.0001 Goldfinch Linnet Twite Bullfinch Yellowhammer <.0001 Reed Bunting Corn Bunting <

33 APPENDIX 4 Significance of the difference in median value for fledging date between the nine Government Office Regions (GOR) in England (species names in bold letter face are significant at 0.05 level). Species Chi-square value No. of GOR P value regions Grey Heron <.0001 Sparrowhawk Kestrel Merlin Hobby Oystercatcher <.0001 Ringed Plover <.0001 Curlew Stock Dove Collared Dove Turtle Dove Little Owl Tawny Owl <.0001 Nightjar <.0001 Woodlark Skylark <.0001 Swallow Tree Pipit <.0001 Meadow Pipit <.0001 Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail Dipper Wren Dunnock Robin <.0001 Nightingale Redstart <.0001 Whinchat Stonechat Wheatear Ring Ouzel <.0001 Blackbird <.0001 Song Thrush Mistle Thrush <.0001 Grasshopper Warbler Sedge Warbler <.0001 Reed Warbler <.0001 Lesser Whitethroat Whitethroat <.0001 Garden Warbler Blackcap <.0001 Wood Warbler <.0001 Chiffchaff

34 APPENDIX 4 Fledging date continued. Species Chi-square value No. of GOR P value regions Willow Warbler <.0001 Spotted Flycatcher Long-tailed Tit Marsh Tit Blue Tit <.0001 Great Tit <.0001 Nuthatch Treecreeper Magpie <.0001 Jackdaw <.0001 Rook <.0001 Carrion Crow <.0001 Starling <.0001 House Sparrow Tree Sparrow <.0001 Chaffinch finch Goldfinch Linnet Twite Bullfinch Yellowhammer <.0001 Reed Bunting <.0001 Corn Bunting <

35 APPENDIX 5 5%, 50%, 95% and 100% percentiles for first egg laying dates for those species which showed a significant difference in their median first egg laying dates between the GORs in England. Species Region Percentiles No. records caveat Grey Heron North West Grey Heron North East * Grey Heron Yorkshire/Humber * Grey Heron East Midlands Grey Heron East England Grey Heron West Midlands * Mute Swan North West * Mute Swan East England * Mute Swan South East Mute Swan South West * Sparrowhawk North West * Sparrowhawk Yorkshire/Humber Sparrowhawk East Midlands * Sparrowhawk South East Kestrel North West * Kestrel Yorkshire/Humber * Kestrel East Midlands * Kestrel East England Kestrel South East Kestrel South West * Moorhen North West Moorhen North East * Moorhen Yorkshire/Humber Moorhen East Midlands Moorhen East England Moorhen West Midlands Moorhen South East Moorhen South West Oystercatcher North West Oystercatcher North East Oystercatcher East Midlands * Oystercatcher East England Lapwing North West Lapwing North East * Lapwing Yorkshire/Humber Lapwing East England * Lapwing South East * Redshank North West * Redshank East England Nightjar East Midlands Nightjar East England Nightjar South East Skylark North West Skylark East Midlands * Skylark East England Skylark South East * Dates are number of days since 1 January (see Appendix 2 for conversion to calendar days). 33

36 APPENDIX 5 First egg laying dates continued. Species Region Percentiles No. records caveat Swallow North West Swallow North East Swallow Yorkshire/Humber Swallow East Midlands Swallow East England Swallow West Midlands Swallow South East Swallow South West Tree Pipit East Midlands * Tree Pipit East England * Tree Pipit South East Tree Pipit South West * Meadow Pipit North West Meadow Pipit North East * Meadow Pipit Yorkshire/Humber Meadow Pipit East Midlands * Meadow Pipit East England * Meadow Pipit South East Pied Wagtail North West Pied Wagtail North East Pied Wagtail Yorkshire/Humber Pied Wagtail East Midlands Pied Wagtail East England Pied Wagtail West Midlands Pied Wagtail South East Pied Wagtail South West Dipper North West Dipper North East Dipper Yorkshire/Humber * Dipper East Midlands * Dipper West Midlands Dipper South West Wren North West Wren North East * Wren Yorkshire/Humber Wren East Midlands Wren East England Wren West Midlands Wren South East Wren South West Dunnock North West Dunnock North East Dunnock Yorkshire/Humber Dunnock East Midlands Dunnock East England Dunnock West Midlands Dunnock South East Dunnock South West Dates are number of days since 1 January (see Appendix 2 for conversion to calendar days). 34

37 APPENDIX 5 First egg laying dates continued. Species Region Percentiles No. records caveat Robin North West Robin North East Robin Yorkshire/Humber Robin East Midlands Robin East England Robin West Midlands Robin South East Robin South West Robin London * Redstart North West Redstart North East Redstart Yorkshire/Humber Redstart East Midlands * Redstart West Midlands * Redstart South East Redstart South West Stonechat North West Stonechat South East Stonechat South West * Ring Ouzel North West * Ring Ouzel North East * Ring Ouzel Yorkshire/Humber * Ring Ouzel East Midlands * Blackbird North West Blackbird North East Blackbird Yorkshire/Humber Blackbird East Midlands Blackbird East England Blackbird West Midlands Blackbird South East Blackbird South West Blackbird London * Song Thrush North West Song Thrush North East Song Thrush Yorkshire/Humber Song Thrush East Midlands Song Thrush East England Song Thrush West Midlands Song Thrush South East Song Thrush South West Song Thrush London * Mistle Thrush North West Mistle Thrush North East * Mistle Thrush Yorkshire/Humber Mistle Thrush East Midlands Mistle Thrush East England Mistle Thrush West Midlands Mistle Thrush South East Mistle Thrush South West Dates are number of days since 1 January (see Appendix 2 for conversion to calendar days). 35

38 APPENDIX 5 First egg laying dates continued. Species Region Percentiles No. records caveat Sedge Warbler North West Sedge Warbler North East * Sedge Warbler East Midlands Sedge Warbler East England Sedge Warbler South East Sedge Warbler South West * Reed Warbler North West Reed Warbler Yorkshire/Humber * Reed Warbler East Midlands Reed Warbler East England Reed Warbler West Midlands Reed Warbler South East Reed Warbler South West Whitethroat North West * Whitethroat East Midlands * Whitethroat East England * Whitethroat West Midlands * Whitethroat South East Blackcap North West Blackcap North East * Blackcap Yorkshire/Humber * Blackcap East Midlands Blackcap East England Blackcap West Midlands * Blackcap South East Blackcap South West * Wood Warbler North West * Wood Warbler West Midlands * Wood Warbler South East Wood Warbler South West Chiffchaff North West * Chiffchaff East Midlands * Chiffchaff East England Chiffchaff West Midlands * Chiffchaff South East Chiffchaff South West Willow Warbler North West Willow Warbler North East Willow Warbler Yorkshire/Humber Willow Warbler East Midlands Willow Warbler East England Willow Warbler West Midlands Willow Warbler South East Willow Warbler South West Long-tailed Tit North West Long-tailed Tit North East Long-tailed Tit Yorkshire/Humber Long-tailed Tit East Midlands Long-tailed Tit East England Long-tailed Tit West Midlands Long-tailed Tit South East Long-tailed Tit South West Dates are number of days since 1 January (see Appendix 2 for conversion to calendar days). 36

39 APPENDIX 5 First egg laying dates continued. Species Region Percentiles No. records caveat Marsh Tit West Midlands * Marsh Tit South East * Marsh Tit South West Blue Tit North West Blue Tit North East Blue Tit Yorkshire/Humber Blue Tit East Midlands Blue Tit East England Blue Tit West Midlands Blue Tit South East Blue Tit South West Blue Tit London * Great Tit North West Great Tit North East Great Tit Yorkshire/Humber Great Tit East Midlands Great Tit East England Great Tit West Midlands Great Tit South East Great Tit South West Great Tit London * Magpie North West Magpie North East * Magpie East Midlands * Magpie East England Magpie West Midlands Magpie South East Magpie South West * Jackdaw North West Jackdaw East Midlands * Jackdaw West Midlands * Jackdaw South East Jackdaw South West * Rook East Midlands * Rook East England Carrion Crow North West Carrion Crow East England Carrion Crow West Midlands * Carrion Crow South East Carrion Crow South West * Starling North West Starling North East Starling Yorkshire/Humber * Starling East Midlands Starling East England Starling West Midlands Starling South East Starling South West Starling London * Dates are number of days since 1 January (see Appendix 2 for conversion to calendar days). 37