A fortnight ago, I was checking the press release we were issuing in response to the latest plans to develop Lodge Hill. In it we referred to the 90% decline in our nightingale population in the last fifty years. I paused on the 90% figure. It didn’t seem right. I knew the decline was significant, but for some reason I hadn’t equated the nightingale decline to that suffered by turtle dove or willow tit. So, I went on the BTO website – the best place to check bird trend statistics – and this confirmed the 90% decline.

Source: The battle of Lodge Hill (part 9): how you can help save Lodge Hill and its nightingales – Martin Harper’s blog – Our work – The RSPB Community