The Chough in Britain and Ireland

Abstract

T Chough Pyrrhocoraxpyrrhocorax has a global range that extends from the Atlantic seaboard of Europe to the Himalayas. Vaurie (1959) mentioned seven subspecies and gave the range of P. p. pyrrhocorax as Britain and Ireland only. He considered the Brittany population to be the race found in the Alps, Italy and Iberia, P. p. erythroramphus, whereas Witherby et al. (1940) regarded it as the nominate race. Despite its status as a Schedule I species, and general agreement that it was formerly much more widespread, the Chough has never been adequately surveyed. Apart from isolated regional surveys (e.g. Harrop 1970, Donovan 1972), there has been only one comprehensive census, undertaken by enthusiastic volunteers in 1963 (Rolfe 1966). Although often quoted, the accuracy of the 1963 survey has remained in question, and whether the population was increasing, stable or in decline has remained a mystery. In 1982, the RSPB organised an international survey in conjunction with the IWC and the BTO, to determine the current breeding numbers and distribution in Britain and Ireland and to collect data on habitat types within the main breeding areas. A survey of the Brittany population was organised simultaneously by members of La Societe pour 1'Etude et la Protection de la Nature en Bretagne (SEPNB). The complete survey results are presented here, together with an analysis of the Chough's breeding biology based on collected data and BTO records, along with a discussion of the ecological factors affecting Choughs. Regional totals and local patterns of breeding and feeding biology are discussed in more detail in a series of regional papers for Ireland, the Isle of Man, Wales and Scotland (Bullock*/al. 1983a, b, c; Warnes 1983).