One leading the way announced bird's decline (8)

I believe the answer is:

coxswain

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'one leading the way announced bird's decline' is the definition.
The answer is a person as well as being a singular noun. This is suggested by the definition.

This is the entire clue.

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(Other definitions for coxswain that I've seen before include "Lifeboat helmsman" , "Wax icons (anag)" , "Boat steersman" , "one over the eight" , "one steers" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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