House sparrows are the most typical bird found in the UK for a 20th straight year – regardless of their numbers falling by 22million considering that 1966.
Sparrows topped the charts in the RSPB’s yearly Big Garden Birdwatch, the world’s biggest wildlife study. The occasion, now in its 44th year, asked individuals throughout the nation to spend an hour counting birds in their gardens, from their verandas or windows and in their regional parks in between January 27 and 29.
Almost 1.5million sparrows were found over the weekend. Blue tits were the 2nd most typically spotted types, followed by the starling in 3rd.
The tune thrush simply hung on in the leading 20, however its numbers have actually fallen by 80% considering that the very first Big Garden Birdwatch in 1979.
It wasn’t all problem, with long-tailed tit numbers were up 39% on 2022, however general patterns continue to highlight the degree of the eco-friendly crisis.
RSPB CEO Beccy Speight said: ‘With so many people sending in their sightings over the weekend from across the UK, Big Garden Birdwatch really helps paint a picture of how our garden birds are faring.
‘While we celebrate the 20-year stint of the house sparrow at number one, the numbers speak for themselves when it comes to the startling declines of some of our once common birds. They no longer have the abundance across the UK that they used to have. We are in a nature and climate emergency and we’ve lost 38 million birds from our skies in the last 50 years.’
Greenfinch and chaffinch numbers fell 65% and 34% respectively. Both types continue to be severely impacted by an illness called trichomonosis, an illness that triggers issues swallowing food.
To help avoid the spread of the illness in infected food and drinking water, the RSPB said: ‘Garden owners can help by ensuring that feeders, bird tables and bird baths are moved around to stop food waste building up, regularly cleaning with a mild disinfectant and only filling up feeders with enough food to last up to two days.
‘If you see sick birds where you are feeding, temporarily stop feeding for at least two weeks and leave bird baths dry.’
Shortly after the Big Garden Birdwatch, schoolchildren throughout the UK participated in the Big Schools Birdwatch over spring half-term. Blackbirds, woodpigeons and house sparrows were the 3 most typically spotted birds in school premises.
Up next, the RSPB will be hosting the Wild Weekender, which occurs from April 28 to May 1.
‘With spring seeing the nature on our doorsteps burst into life, we’re confident that increasingly more individuals will feel empowered to assist in saving our wild islands,’ said Speight. ‘Connecting with nature doesn’t need to stop with the Big Garden Birdwatch – everybody can experience the pleasure of providing nature an assisting hand by going wild when a week.
‘From planting wildflowers in a window box to volunteering for local nature projects, why not join us for the Wild Weekender – an inspiring online event packed full of top tips, tricks and ideas, big and small – to help get you started in taking action for nature?’
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