This indicator is a multi-species index measuring changes in population abundance of all common bird species (n=168), as well as those associated with specific habitats: common farmland bird species (n=39) and common forest bird species (n=34). The index for each group is calculated at EU level only, using 1990 as reference year. Each of the three EU bird indices is presented as a smoothed time series and is calculated with 95% confidence limits.
The data for this indicator originate from national monitoring data collected by the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (PECBMS). PECBMS is a partnership, involving the EBCC, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, BirdLife International and Statistics Netherlands, that aims to deliver policy-relevant biodiversity indicators for Europe. The PECBMS coordination unit is part of the Czech Society for Ornithology (CSO), based in Prague, Czechia. The unit collects national indices, produces European indices and indicators, prepares outputs for publication, and communicates outputs to the public, policymakers and scientists.
Trend information spanning different time periods is derived from annual national breeding bird surveys in 26 EU countries. Skilled survey participants, including volunteers, carry out counting and data collection. Data are collected nationally on an annual basis during the breeding season through common bird monitoring schemes. National bird monitoring data are gathered using several count methods (e.g. standardised point transects/line transects, territory mapping), using a variety of sampling strategies (from free choice of plots to stratified random sampling), and individual plot sizes vary within each country (from 1 × 1km or 2 × 2km squares or 2.5 degree grid squares to irregular polygons).
Indicators (multi-species indices) are computed using the MSI-tool (R-script) for calculating multi-species indicators (MSIs) and trends in MSIs. A Monte Carlo method is used to account for sampling error and when not all yearly index numbers for all species are available. The method of calculation is described in Soldaat et al., 2017. European, EU or regional species indices including standard errors are used as source data.
Country coverage (i.e. reflecting the availability of high-quality monitoring data from annually operated common bird monitoring schemes employing generic survey methods and producing reliable national trends): Austria (since 1998), Belgium (Brussels since 1992; Flanders since 2007; Wallonia since 1990), Bulgaria (since 2005), Croatia (since 2015), Cyprus (since 2006), Czechia (since 1982), Denmark (since 1976), Estonia (since 1983), Finland (since 1975), France (since 1989), Germany (since 1989), Greece (since 2007), Hungary (since 1999), Ireland (since 1998), Italy (since 2000), Latvia (since 1995), Lithuania (since 2011), Luxembourg (since 2009), the Netherlands (since 1984), Poland (since 2000), Portugal (since 2004), Romania (since 2007), Slovakia (since 2005), Slovenia (since 2008), Spain (since 1998) and Sweden (since 1975).
The current population index of common birds at EU level was produced for the following 168 species:
- Common farmland birds: Alauda arvensis, Alectoris rufa, Anthus campestris, Anthus pratensis, Bubulcus ibis, Burhinus oedicnemus, Calandrella brachydactyla, Ciconia ciconia, Corvus frugilegus, Emberiza calndra, Emberiza cirlus, Emberiza citrinella, Emberiza hortulana, Emberiza malanocephala, Falco tinnunculus, Galerida cristata, Galerida theklae, Hirundo rustica, Lanius collurio, Lanius minor, Lanius senator, Limosa limosa, Linaria cannabina, Melanocorypha calandra, Motacilla flava, Oenanthe hispanica, Passer montanus, Perdix perdix, Petronia petronia, Saxicola rubetra, Saxicola torquatus, Serinus serinus, Streptopelia turtur, Sturnus unicolor, Sturnus vulgaris, Sylvia communis, Tetrax tetrax, Upupa epops and Vanellus vanellus.
- Common forest birds: Accipiter nisus, Anthus trivialis, Bombycilla garrulous, Bonasa bonasia, Carduelis cintinella, Certhia brachydactyla, Certhia familiaris, Coccothraustes coccothraustes, Columba oenas, Cyanopica cyanus, Dryobates minor, Dryocopus martius, Emberiza rustica, Ficedula albicollis, Ficedula hypoleuca, Garrulus glandarius, Leiopicus medius, Lophophanes cristatus, Nucifraga caryocatactes, Periparus ater, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Phylloscopus bonelli, Phylloscopus collybita, Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Picus canus, Poecile montanus, Poecile palustris, Pyrrhula pyrrhula, Regulus ignicapilla, Regulus regulus, Sitta europaea, Spinus spinus, Tringa ochropus and Turdus viscivorus.
- Other common birds: Acanthis flammea, Acrocephalus arundinaceus, Acrocephalus palustris, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, Acrocephalus scirpaceus, Actitis hypoleucus, Aegithalos caudatus, Alcedo atthis, Anas platyrhynchos, Apus apus, Ardea cinerea, Buteo buteo, Calcarius lapponicus, Cecropis daurica, Cettia cetti, Chloris chloris, Circus aeruginosus, Cisticola juncidis, Clamator glandarius, Columba palumbus, Corvus corax, Corvus corone, Corvus monedula, Cuculus canorus, Cyanecula svecica, Cyanistes caeruleus, Cygnus olor, Delichon urbicum, Dendrocopos major, Dendrocopos syriacus, Egretta garzetta, Emberiza cia, Emberiza schoeniclus, Erithacus rubecula, Fringilla coelebs, Fringilla montifringilla, Fulica atra, Gallinago gallinago, Gallinula chloropus, Grus grus, Haematopus ostralegus, Hippolais icterina, Hippolais polyglotta, Iduna pallida, Jynx torquilla, Larus ridibundus, Locustella fluviatilis, Locustella naevia, Lullula arborea, Luscinia luscinia, Luscinia megarhynchos, Lyrurus tetrix, Merops apiaster, Motacilla alba, Motacilla cinerea, Muscicapa striata, Numenius arquata, Numenius phaeopus, Oenanthe oenanthe, Oriolus oriolus, Parus major, Passer domesticus, Phasianus colchicus, Phoenicurus ochruros, Phylloscopus trochilus, Pica pica, Picus viridis, Pluvialis apricaria, Podiceps cristatus, Prunella modularis, Ptyonoprogne rupestris, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Streptopelia decaocto, Sylvia atricapilla, Sylvia borin, Sylvia cantillans, Sylvia curruca, Sylvia hortensis, Sylvia melanocephala, Sylvia nisoria, Sylvia undata, Tachybaptus ruficollis, Tadorna tadorna, Tringa erythropus, Tringa glareola, Tringa nebularia, Tringa totanus, Troglodytes troglodytes, Turdus iliacus, Turdus merula, Turdus philomelos, Turdus pilaris and Turdus torquatus.
National monitoring schemes and indices can contain a subset of these 168 species, reflecting their varying occurrence in different countries. More information about species indices and trends is available at: https://pecbms.info/
The common bird index is a headline indicator for monitoring progress towards the 8th Environment Action Programme (8th EAP). It mainly contributes to monitoring aspects of the 8th EAP priority objective Article 2.2.e that shall be met by 2030: ‘protecting, preserving and restoring marine and terrestrial biodiversity and the biodiversity of inland waters inside and outside protected areas by, inter alia, halting and reversing biodiversity loss and improving the state of ecosystems and their functions and the services they provide, and by improving the state of the environment, in particular air, water and soil, as well as by combating desertification and soil degradation’. For the purposes of the 8th EAP monitoring framework this indicator assesses specifically whether the EU will ‘reverse by 2030 the decline in populations of common birds’ .
The common bird index is also used to monitor progress toward EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 target 4 and as an EU indicator to monitor progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal 15: “Life on land”.
Related policy documents
- EU biodiversity strategy for 2030: the European Commission has adopted a new EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 and an associated action plan — a comprehensive, ambitious, long-term plan for protecting nature and reversing the degradation of ecosystems. It aims to put Europe’s biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030, with benefits for people, the climate and the planet. It aims to build our societies’ resilience to future threats such as climate change impacts, forest fires, food insecurity and disease outbreaks, including by protecting wildlife and fighting illegal wildlife trade. A core part of the European Green Deal, the biodiversity strategy will also support a green recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
- EU, 2022, Decision (EU) 2022/591 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 April 2022 on a General Union Environment Action Programme to 2030, OJL 114, 12.4.2022, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32022D0591 accessed October 24, 2022.
- EC, 2022, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the monitoring framework for the 8th Environment Action Programme: Measuring progress towards the attainment of the Programme’s 2030 and 2050 priority objectives, COM/2022/357 final, EUR-Lex - 52022DC0357 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu), accessed October 24, 2022.
- The EU has been taking action to protect biodiversity for a considerable number of years, for example by adopting the Birds Directive — Council Directive 79/409/EEC (updated by Directive 2009/147/EC) and the Habitats Directive — Council Directive 92/43/EEC.
Justification for indicator selection
Main advantages of the indicator:
Policy relevant: this indicator contributes to the assessment of biodiversity conservation policies and targets, as well as other sectoral and thematic policies and strategies.
Biodiversity relevant: birds can be excellent indicators of the health of the environment. They occur in many habitats, can reflect changes in other animal and plant populations, and are sensitive to environmental change.
Scientifically sound and methodologically well founded: the methods used have been harmonised (national systems may differ but indices are standardised before being combined), and are peer-reviewed and statistically robust.
Monitors progress towards targets: this indicator provides a tangible basis for measuring progress towards biodiversity targets.
Broad acceptance and understanding: Birds resonate strongly with the public, illustrating how citizen science can be exploited through effective targeting.
No accuracies or uncertainties have been reported.
