Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of predation on the size of the songbird population. [44281]

Richard Benyon MP; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Natural Environment and Fisheries): In 2009, DEFRA funded a wide-ranging research review to identify the causes of decline in wild bird populations. This included an assessment of the impact of predation. It found evidence that predation was, at least in some areas, having an impact on ground-nesting species such as seabirds or wading birds of wetland habitats (i.e. not songbirds). Predation was also identified as a potential driver of declines for nine woodland bird species including some songbirds such as bullfinch. Many bird and other animal species are known to predate songbirds. However, despite some studies showing a link to local declines in some bird populations at some individual sites, the evidence that predation is driving national declines is mixed. In addition, most research treats 'predators' as a single group and further research to better understand the role of individual predators and the known or likely impact of their control is required.

A more recent review undertaken by the RSPB, specifically on predation came to similar conclusions.

Both reports highlight one further important caveat: that there is a strong interaction with land use change-as habitats become degraded, birds are more susceptible to predation. What is clear from the research is that while predation can be important for some species in some areas, key drivers of change are habitat degradation and fragmentation, and in woodland, changes to habitat structure and so this is where our policies are focused. Improved habitat management also benefits the full range of species associated with the British countryside.