State of UK birds 2020. An interesting read with good and bad. The pheasant comes in equal 10th with the number of UK breeding birds at 2.4 million pairs, roughly same number as the Great Tit, then Willow Warbler at 2.3 million (number one is the Wren at 11 million pairs). But in terms of biomass it is second at 3995 tonnes. First is Woodpigeon at 4944 tonnes thanks to all the intensive farming. Third is the Gannet at 1810 tonnes, 4th Common Guillemot at 1273 tonnes, then Carrion Crow at 1197 tonnes, the first smaller bird, is sixth, with Blackbird at 1093 tonnes. HOWEVER, In each late summer about 47 million pheasants are released for shooting and at the peak number in September there may be 50 million. This post breeding biomass is MORE than ALL native species combined. This is staggering!!! Think of the huge impact on insects and flora (many woodlands near pheasant shoots have no ground flora as any plants struggle to grow with the pesky pecking pheasants!). Not really helping with the current idea of enhancing biodiversity. #stateofUKbirds #pheasant #biodiversity #kevthenatureguide #commonbritishbirds #birdbiomass (at UK) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKBaQpkjTL_/?igshid=1w581b6wizh8j