The status of the Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus in the UK and the Channel Islands in 1998

A survey of breeding Cirl Buntings in the United Kingdom and the Channel Is lands was undertaken in 1998. An estimated 453 (95% CI, 415-504) territorie s were recorded in 103 tetrads in Devon. This amounts to an increase of 29% in the Devon population since the last full survey in 1993, when 352 terri tories were recorded in 95 tetrads. In addition, nine territories were loca ted on the island of Jersey in 1998 although none were found elsewhere. In 1993 there were 18 singing males on Jersey with a further two in both Cornw all and Somerset. The Cirl Bunting population in Devon seems to be consolid ating rather than expanding as the only significant increase in numbers bet ween 1993 and 1998 was from those tetrads occupied in both years. This pape r also summarizes the results of surveys during 1989-97 and assesses the ch anges in the Cirl Bunting population over that period.