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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jos Stratford" data-source="post: 1523930" data-attributes="member: 12449">This is largely the picture I was expecting - a tale of doom and gloom, with a little caveat of reintroductions. However, that is not the only reality of what is happening in the UK. Massive expansion of populations of most raptor species in recent decades, think Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, etc. Massive population expansions of Dartford Warblers, Cetti's Warblers, Little Egrets, Avocets, Long-tailed Tits, etc, etc (this list is also fairly lengthy). When I was a UK birder, four of those didn't even breed in the county I lived - all are regular now. Also impressive creation of, or plans to create, important wetlands - Teesmouth, Rainham marshes, etc, etc. Even London does well - just go to the Wetland Centre and think what was there a decade or so before. And yes, succesful reintroductions of some species lost in earlier centuries.Could go on with tales of good news, but the point here is, despite serious problems that do need to be tackled, be it persecution of Hen Harriers or habitat loss, be it in Britain or globally, it is simply not the case that all is doom and gloom. To say it is, is simply wrong and, more seriously, turns the message we put out to the general public into a negative turn-off.Next time you're out in the countryside, take a look round, it is still a very fine place.</blockquote>