The Dartford Warblers suffered population crashes and were in danger of disappearing from the United Kingdom in the 1960s, largely due to the loss of the lowland areas in which they thrive. However, the RSPB reports the highest number of Dartford warblers on record – 183 pairs – in its reserves, including RSPB Arne in Dorset and RSPB Minsmere in Suffolk. In addition to needing the cover provided by the gorse, the bird is sensitive to harsh weather and almost disappeared in the great frost of 1962-3, but recent milder weather has helped it bounce. The population has recovered in recent years and by 2019, 23 pairs were found at the Minsmere Coastal Shelter. the data show that there are now 37 pairs there. Mel Kemp, a security guard at Minsmere who oversees the restoration of heather on the site, said: “All the hard work to restore this habitat has really paid off.” A Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata), on the heath on the Suffolk coast. Photo: Christopher Smith / Alamy Dartford warblers are long-tailed warblers. Male gray and brown birds are often spotted singing from the tops of gorge bushes in the spring sun, hoping to attract a mate. In addition to the perfect song platform, the thorny shrub provides a safe nest and hunting ground for the bird, which specializes in collecting spiders and caterpillars from their hiding places. Heathland supports a range of wildlife, from birds and mammals to insects, reptiles and amphibians, but is one of the UK’s most endangered habitats, with 80% lost since 1800 due to change of use land. Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST Kemp said: “We must continue to restore, manage and protect the heather we have left here in the UK to better secure the future not only of the Dartford felt but of many other species.” In addition to their good fortune in Dorset and Suffolk, Dartford warblers have appeared in RSPB stocks in Devon, Kent, Surrey and Hampshire. The return of the fox is the second good news for the birds in a week for Dorset, after it was revealed that a pair of osprey in Poole’s port had laid an egg, the species’ first breeding attempt in southern England in almost 200 years. .
