THE NEAR threatened Dartford Warblers have made an impressive comeback in Dorset, a recently launched RSPB Ecology Report has shown.

The report reveals that the RSPB nature reserves have seen 183 pairs of the bird, their highest ever, with some being spotted at the RSPB Arne reserve near Poole.

The heathland dwelling bird, which relies on the habitat’s dense gorse, is particularly sensitive to cold weather and has previously suffered as a result of harsh winters.

Dwindling down to just a handful of pairs in Dorset during a population crash in the 1960s, with a real risk of extinction.

However, due to concerted conservation efforts to create and restore heathland, and a series of milder winters, means that the bird has fared well on the RSPB’s nature reserves in 2021, with a total of 183 pairs.

Mel Kemp, the warden at RSPB Minsmere, oversaw the heathland restoration at the site, and is delighted with the outcome: “We have seen a steady increase in the number of Dartford warblers, alongside other species relying on heathland habitats such as nightjar.

"All the hard work of restoring this habitat has really paid off."

Despite their gradually increasing numbers, Dartford warblers are still considered an amber listed species in terms of conservation status, meaning that they are of moderate concern.

Mel Kemp continued: “Dartford Warblers are a fantastic bird to see on our nature reserves and beyond, and we are fortunate enough to have growing numbers of them here in the UK.

"As climate change puts pressure on the areas Dartford warblers can call home across the globe, we must ready ourselves to become more responsible for safeguarding the future of this species as a higher percentage of the global population flock to UK heathlands."

Heathland is one of the UK’s most threatened homes for nature.

Whilst supporting a range of British wildlife from birds and mammals to insects, reptiles and amphibians, 80% of UK heathland has been lost since the 1800s due to land-use change and 13% of species that depend on heathlands and grasslands are considered at risk.

Mel Kemp adds: “Increased responsibility for the Dartford warbler population means we need to continue to restore, manage and protect the heathland we have left here in the UK to best ensure the future of not just this species, but many others too."