Black Redstart action plan

Aims
1. To protect, conserve and enhance the present population in London.
2. To promote the black redstart as a cultural icon for London.
3. To raise awareness of the black redstart to the population as a whole and more specifically to planning authorities, architects, landscapers and developers.



The black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is an attractive, robin-sized bird of the thrush
family with a distinctive orange/brown tail. A relatively recent colonist from Europe, black redstarts are regarded by many as the 'bomb site' or 'power station' bird. In continental Europe the bird is common and associated with rocky mountainous terrain and cliffs. In the UK, although some birds do breed on cliffs along the south coast, the black redstart's distribution is concentrated in the urban environment. Power stations, gasworks, industrial units and dilapidated wharves are their preferred habitat. For this reason the species' conservation requirements are unique for a British bird.

Specific provision for black redstarts has been incorporated into a number of new developments in London through the inclusion of green roofs which can provide good black redstart habitat. Isolated pairs are still found in central London, which was the bird's stronghold after the second-world war, and they breed on at least one mainline station in central London. On average there are between 8 and 12 pairs breeding in Greater London each year with a further 6-10 singing males present. One pair breeding in a London Borough amounts to approximately 3% of the national population.

Contact
The Lead for this species is London Wildlife Trust.
Dusty Gedge
Tel: 020 8692 2109
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.blackredstarts.org.uk
www.livingroofs.org