It is reported that another two more of Britain’s regularly nesting birds are heading towards extinction. In the latest revision of Bird Life International’s “Red List’” the curlew and the Dartford warbler have been listed as “Near Threatened” - which is a classification only one step below those species facing global extinction.

The latest additions swell the numbers of nesting “Near Threatened” birds in Britain to five; joining the red kite, corncrake and black-tailed godwit on the list of endangered bird species.

In Britain the curlew, although still widespread, is a rapidly-declining species in many areas. Meanwhile the Dartford warbler, a largely heathland bird, is said to be expanding its range rapidly from the southern counties of England, largely because of heathland conservation, restoration programmes and milder winters. But the news is not so good for the warbler - which is declining rapidly in other parts of its European range, meaning Britain’s population of this species is of greater global significance.

The latest assessments are based on the population declines of both birds across their global ranges. The curlew is generally found across a belt of central and northern Europe and Asia, while 90% of the Dartford warbler is found in southern and western Europe.

In Britain, curlew numbers have fallen by 53% between 1970 and 2005, and by 37% between 1994 and 2006. It is believed that around 30% of the western European curlew population nests in Britain. The global population is suspected to have fallen by around 25% in the past 15 years.

BirdLife International estimates that the Dartford warbler may have declined in Europe by as much as 40% over the last decade. In its Spanish heartland, the warbler decreased by nearly six per cent per year between 1998 and 2006. Although, in Briton, the Dartford warbler has extended its range and increased its population to a total of 3209 territories in 2006.

Globally, the majority of species on the Red List are confined to islands or have very small ranges, perhaps limited by available habitat.

A RSPB scientist, recently claimed: “Since 1600 only two species of European bird - the great auk and the Canarian black oystercatcher - have become globally extinct. But the inclusion of widespread and familiar species like the curlew and the Dartford warbler to the list of birds facing trouble is deeply concerning and a warning that we will lose more species without urgent action. It is a sign that more and more birds are unable to cope with the fundamental changes, like habitat destruction and climate change that we are wreaking on our continent and the planet. Currently, 50 out of Europe’s 540 bird species are on a path towards extinction. We now need more urgent action to prevent some of our once-familiar birds from joining the great auk in the extinction ledger.”