Good News Update: Hawfinches Back In Herefordshire

Author: Sydney Perry

Rewilding is a reaction to a world that has seen the disappearance of species after species, yet despite this, it remains a positive and proactive set of beliefs. Therefore, as we move into the new year, we wanted to share some good news - because it's not just the big animals which count when it comes to rewilding. 

It's easy to forget that alongside wolves, bears, beavers, and large ungulates such as aurochs, the ancestors of modern cattle, there are also many bird species which have disappeared from the British countryside. Many of them would have been a familiar site to previous generations yet are practically unknown to some of the youngest members or society. Species that would have once marked the changing seasons and formed the backdrop to childhood rites of passage like summer holidays or the first snow of the winter are now gone - much like the expectation of there even being any snow at all, in fact. Birds like the yellowhammer and cuckoo marked summer and spring with their distinctive calls and created a tapestry of culture that made one season distinct from the next. 

A Bird Return in Record Numbers 

This is why it is such positive news that one such winter migrant bird has been found in small numbers in Herefordshire after scientists previously believed it to be extinct. The hawfinch is a large, chunky looking finch that as its name suggests would have been a familiar site in winter a while ago, feeding on hawthorn, rowan, and other winter berries. Hawfinches have one of the strongest beaks of any bird species, however, and they can even break apart fruit pips such as cherry stones. 

Yet the Hawfinch sightings in Herefordshire are a cause for celebration for more reasons than one. Hawfinches are on the UK red list of endangered birds, although this year has been seeing an influx of hawfinches as did the winter of 2017 to 2018. Yet these are extremely social birds, meaning they like to nest in large colonies. As a result, the discovery of a handful in the Herefordshire woodlands is a good sign that there may in fact be others in the area too - and the presence of a large colony can help signal to others that the area is abundant with food, encouraging more birds to overwinter there. 

Furthermore, as winter migrants, it’s a sign that things are going well in the other locations that these birds spend their time. Many bird species are notoriously hard to protect due to their migration patterns. Famous examples include the cuckoo, once an iconic sound in spring, which is now endangered and infrequently seen in the UK but which is very difficult for conservationists to help as it is suspected their struggles are due to insect decline in the forests of West Africa where they spend the winter. Likewise, like other winter passage migrants such as redwings, these birds spend their time here due to the abundance of food and more favourable climate, but don’t breed. Therefore, the continued influxes the UK has been seeing means that they are by extension doing well elsewhere - which is a promising sign as it is very hard otherwise to keep an eye on every aspect of these birds’ migratory journey. 

All is Not Lost 

So what would we have to do if we want to see this positive trend continue? 

Hawfinches prefer deciduous mixed woodland - and they prefer old woodland. The trouble is, there isn’t a lot of this left in the UK, and it’s notable that many of the hawfinch strongholds, such as the Forest of Dean, are areas of old woodland that have been undisturbed by man for many centuries. Furthermore, hawfinches often prefer rarer tree species in which to roost, notably hornbeam - and there are few woodlands left which offer this kind of diversity of tree species any more. 

In part this is due to mankind. But diseases such as Dutch elm disease in the past have had knock on effects on woodlands as a whole, and even before the modern era woods were being felled for farmland, timber for shipbuilding, and more. Whilst the UK may often seem woody and forested, in truth these patches of trees that often rear up through the window on long motorway drives are forestry plantations and are homogeneous environments with only one or two tree species. This is a world away from the kind of variety berry eating birds like the hawfinch need to find both suitable food plants and nesting trees. However, mature woodland is exactly that - it’s mature, and only by leaving the land alone for many decades can we even begin to think about rebuilding some of these habitats. 

However, all is not lost. The reappearance of these birds in a corner of the country where they were thought to be extinct is a sign that at least something must be going right - and is proof that we needn’t do much in order for it to benefit migratory species that are often greatly for a warm place to perch. Furthermore, even the smallest bit of woodland can make a difference - and we hope that this discovery can incentivise people to preserve the last remaining mature woodlands around the UK and for landowners to prioritise naturalistic, unmaintained environments that can support the diversity of plants that encourage ecosystems to rebuild themselves. 

Final Thoughts 

Although rewilding can sometimes make us focus on the things that are missing from the countryside, it’s also important to count the successes as they happen. Either way, it’s great to see a hawfinch colony back, and hopefully once more both they and many of our other winter migrants will be a common sight in the woods and hedgerows of the British countryside. Signalling ecosystems that are returning to how they once were, these birds are a reason to celebrate - so let’s hope for their wintering sites to spread and multiply across the country. 

Have you seen any hawfinches or do you have old or mature woodland near you? We are always keen to know the state of rewilding around the country. Give us a nudge in the comments or on our social media if so.