Cudyll Cymru

Cudyll Cymru is a new British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) survey to monitor the more common and widespread raptors in Wales: Buzzard, Kestrel, Red Kite and Sparrowhawk, along with the Raven, which, although not a raptor, is ecologically very similar and also facing significant threats.

All these birds are vitally important species which are nevertheless significantly under-recorded. This is where Cudyll Cymru comes in; with an emphasis on bringing new people into monitoring and upskilling them over the course of time, the project hopes to maximise geographic coverage and collect robust data about raptor population trends to enhance our understanding of raptors across Wales, and specifically within its Protected Area network. 

Despite the ecological importance of these wonderful birds, we are sadly lacking in data on their numbers and location. There are also no Wales-specific trends for Kestrel and Sparrowhawk - two of our smaller birds of prey.

We do know that Buzzard numbers are in decline - by 17% over the past 10yrs. Ravens are not faring much better. Even more concerningly, Red Kites are showing the biggest short-term decline of all birds in Wales, decreasing by an alarming 35%.

Cudyll Cymru aims to empower local communities to learn more about their raptors, foster a sense of stewardship for their habitats, and encourage active involvement in their preservation.

Click the cards below to find out more about the birds that will be monitored through the Cudyll Cymru project