THE latest results from the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) show that everything might not be as it seems, with many of our woodland birds in trouble.

The BBS report, published by the British Trust for Ornithology in partnership with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the RSPB shows trends for 111 species in the UK and makes interesting reading.

Being a woodland bird in the UK is a bit of a rollercoaster ride, depending on which species you are.

The decline in the willow tit has seen the breeding population fall by 80 per cent, whilst that of its close relative the marsh tit has seen a 41 per cent drop from 1995 to 2015.

Long-distance migrants and fellow woodland species spotted flycatcher, wood warbler and nightingale are also in trouble.

Spotted flycatcher and wood warbler have declined by 38 per cent and 57 per cent respectively in the UK, and nightingale by 48 per cent in England over the last 23 years.

Reasons for these declines vary and could be connected to migration routes, wintering grounds or issues here in UK woodlands.

Tracking projects are underway to discover how pressures on migration and on African wintering grounds could affect these breeding trends.

However, it’s not all bad news; some of our woodland favourites are doing much better. The nuthatch, also a regular visitor to gardens, has seen a 90 per cent growth in its breeding population, and that of the onomatopoeic chiffchaff (it sings its own name) is up by a whopping 109 per cent over the last 23 years.

The report doesn’t only look at woodland birds; it reports from all habitats and there are some interesting findings.

The non-native ring-necked parakeet is seeing its population soar; there are now 15 times more than in 1995.

Things are not as rosy for the turtle dove; for every 100 turtle doves reported in the early 1990s only six remain.

The BBS report is produced annually by the BTO, JNCC and RSPB and is a vital tool in understanding how our breeding birds are doing from year-to-year.

The full report can be accessed at: www.bto.org/bbs-report .