Which birds are doing best in Britain?

The last straw

Farmers are threatening to strike over the government’s changes to inheritance tax in what is being described as a first in Britain. Besides France, where farmers regularly protest, India witnessed a farmers’ strike in 2020, which was eventually settled after the government dropped proposed new laws. But one of the earliest farmers’ strikes was conducted by the Farmers’ Holiday Association in Iowa in 1932, by farmers protesting at consistently low prices for their products. The idea was that farmers would go on ‘holiday’, refusing to sell any of their produce. Few, however, joined, leading to pickets blocking rural roads with telegraph poles. One policeman was killed, but in an accidental discharge of his gun. The action died down after a few months. 

Hate figures

Where in England and Wales are you most likely to be victim of a hate crime? Rate per 100,000 population in 2022/23:

Race

West Midlands 301

West Yorks 297

Greater Manchester 287

Religion

Greater Manchester 30

Leicestershire 29

West Midlands 28

Sexual orientation

Merseyside 3,346

West Yorks 2,591

West Midlands 2,502

Disability

Dorset 350

Hampshire 252

Humberside 227

Trans

Gwent 4,263

Hampshire 4,192

Gloucestershire 3,909

Source: House of Commons Library

Bird’s-eye view

Which birds have done best, and worst, in Britain since 1970?

Best

Greylag goose +3,000%

Gadwall +1,214%

Cetti’s warbler +1,186%

Avocet +1,112%

Brent goose +1,050%

Worst

Turtle dove -99%

Willow tit -97%

Capercaillie -96%

Yellow wagtail -96%

Tree sparrow -93%

Source: Defra