A new study from University College Dublin, working with Spain's Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), challenges the assumption that hunting is the leading cause of bird population declines across Europe. The researchers found that hunting is not the primary driver behind the widespread drop in bird numbers.
The study points instead to other environmental pressures, such as habitat loss and land-use changes, as more significant factors. While hunting may still have localised impacts, the authors argue that conservation strategies aimed at reversing bird declines should prioritise addressing these broader ecological threats.
The findings add to a growing body of evidence that effective bird conservation requires a holistic approach, targeting the underlying causes of population loss rather than focusing narrowly on hunting regulations.