Few British birds have inspired as much artistry as the skylark. From Chaucer to Wordsworth — who devoted two poems to the “ethereal minstrel, pilgrim of the sky” — poets, musicians and jazz performers have been influenced by its song.
The considerable decline in its population since the 1970s has therefore prompted concern among ornithologists and artists alike. Yet research shows their numbers have increased 20 per cent in some areas in the past five years.
The latest breeding bird survey (BBS) by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) found that the skylark’s numbers had surged 10 per cent in the past five years, and 9 per cent in a decade. In some areas, such as the east Midlands and southeast England, their numbers are