Written question asked by Earl Peel (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Bach (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 December 2005.

Grey Squirrels

Question: Whether they are commissioning or sponsoring any research into the impact of grey squirrels on woodland bird populations; and, if not, whether they are aware of any other research.

Answer: Established in 2001, the UK Woodland Bird Group is led by Forestry Commission England and is made up of representatives of more than 15 government and non-governmental organisations, including Defra, the RSPB, the British Trust for Ornithology, and the country conservation agencies. One of its functions is to prioritise work needed to determine the primary factors responsible for declines in woodland bird populations, and encourage further research, policy and management actions aimed at reversing the declines.The UK Woodland Bird Group has identified grey squirrel impact on nesting birds as one of several possible factors that could be contributing to the decline in populations of woodland birds. A proposal has been drafted for collaborative research on the effects of grey squirrel predation, but before embarking on experimental research, the group is carrying out work on obtaining actual evidence of nest predation by grey squirrels.

Secondary information