Linnet (Common Linnet)
Carduelis cannabina
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Distribution Britain 2,268 (-4.6%) Ireland 783 (-17.9%)
Numbers breeding: Britain 520,000 — Ireland 130,000 European status: 8,000,000 (8% in Britain and Ireland =4) British population trend: seriously declining (-41% CBC){-38%} How likely are you to record it? 2,218 squares (49.4%) Ranked 23 [27] |
The Linnet may have lost out to the growth of agriculture as scrubby areas with gorse bushes were cultivated during the 19th century, and to the depredations of bird catchers near large population centres. By the end of the century they were present over most of Britain and Ireland except the Outer Hebrides and Shetland with sparser populations in North-west Scotland and the Inner Hebrides. The birds may have expanded a little during the first half of the 20th century — breeding may have taken place even on the Western isles and Shetland for a time. By the time of the first Breeding Atlas there may have been losses from North-west Scotland and there were many losses from Scotland and Ireland by the time of the second Atlas. This is a species that requires weed seeds and has suffered as the technology of herbicides has been developed. The change on the farmland CBC, 1972-96, has been a decline of 41% and the only grain of comfort is that it has been relatively stable for more than ten years, possibly because they like oilseed rape. At the moment no sign of a return to earlier (proper?) levels.
UKBAP MAFF RSPB.
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead