Wildlife UK Forum - Discuss the UK countryside and wildlife

The results from the 2008 RPSB survey were publicly revealed at the start of the week, has anybody had a look at them?

Here are the top ten most popular birs in our gardens:

1. House sparrow
There were an average of 3.60 sparrows per garden. Although they stay at the top of the table, house sparrow numbers have fallen by 64% since 1979.

2. Starling
An average of 3.44 starlings per garden and a decline of 77% since 1979. Starlings are noisy characters usually seen foraging in small flocks.

3. Blackbird
An average of 2.45 per garden, the blackbird moves up one place from last year.

4. Blue tit
Blue tits dropped one place this year with an average of 2.29 per garden. A decrease of 6% since 1979. An agile bird, the blue tit is most often seen flitting onto bird feeders. In winter, family flocks of blue tits are joined by great tits, long-tailed tits and other woodland species, as they search for food.

5. Chaffinch
With an average of 2.15 per garden, the chaffinch held its 5th position. Since 1979, numbers have fallen by 28%.

6. Woodpigeon
An average of 1.53 per garden, the woodpigeon continues its success in the UK. It's increased by 665% since 1979. They are the largest of the pigeon family. In flight they have distinctive white wing patches and the tail has a dark band at the end.

7. Collared dove
An average of 1.43 per garden, the collared dove drops a place from last year but has still enjoyed an increase of 411% since 1979. Collared doves originally came from southern Asia and spread from there to the extreme south-east of Europe. They were first recorded in Britain in 1953 and have since become a common garden bird throughout Great Britain and Ireland.

8. Robin
An average of 1.26 per garden robins have climbed one place from last year, but we've still seen a decline of 37% since 1979. Robins are the only garden birds to sing throughout the winter, with both males and females holding winter territories.

9. Great tit
Great tits enjoyed an increase in numbers of 39% since 1979, with an average of 1.25 seen per garden. Great tits feed on seeds and scraps either left on the ground, or on bird tables and in nut feeders.

10. Goldfinch
The biggest mover from 2007, an average of 1.16 goldfinches were recorded in gardens this year.

Did anybody participate in the survey? I didn't this year, but I definately will be next year!

It's remarkable how the top two birds in the UK are considered miserable nuisances in the US!

Still, I would have to say that I have certainly seen the numbers of house sparrows drop here. The local starlings appear to be getting displaced by American Crows. Starlings are aggressive, but not as aggressive as the crows.

Kingfisher

Thats very interesting to read, especially as from judging my garden alone I would have said the blackbird is the most common bird.
And why has the house sparrow had such a drastic drop?

I am not sure why, but I will look into it for you.

Thanks Jamie Wade!

MAN THIS IS DRIVING ME NUTS! I can't find a website that gives JUST answers into your question Sunshine.
I have managed to get a one point out of the billions of paragraphs I have read through:

Dramatic decline of hedge rows

Also: "The reason for the sparrow's decline remains a mystery but it appears to be to do with a shortage of insects in summer."

Well the goldfinch is very deservant of its place, well in my garden at least! I dont live in the Uk so I couldn't paricipate. I did the Irish version though .

What were some of the birds you recorded in your survey Stoop?

Ok, thanks for looking anyway Jamie Wade. Maybe its just one of those mysterious nature events that no one really has an answer for

Ok, thanks for looking anyway Jamie Wade. I guess its just one of those nature events that no one can really put their finger on.

Well, the one I did is done over the three months, december, january and february 07-08. I recorded a lot of the usuals, as well as a siskin here and there, the odd redpoll and a few long-tailed tits, oh and a redwing.

I took part in 2 gardens - one in the middle of intensive farming & the other in the middle of a small village - both in west country countryside - there were more starlings & collard doves & sparrows in the village, plus more goldfinches - yet in the middle of the farming there were more green & chaffinches - as for the other birds there were as many tits, robins & blackbirds in both places. I'm not sure what all of this means - the gardens are less then 3 miles from eachother, so you'd think, same type of area, same birds but no, not at all.

I think it is fascinating how dramatically the birds you see change becasue of your habitat.
I live about 3 minutes on my bike from my local river. At home, I get Sparrows, Robins, Blackbirds, Collared Doves etc, but at the River we get Curlews, Swans, Great Crested Grebes, Oystercatchers etc.

Much of the House Sparrows decline has been put down to loss of nest sites. They traditionally nest in older style buildings, under the eves, in crevices etc. New housing estates are springing up all over and dont allow for House Sparrows nesting in them. Also lots of older buildings are being knocked down and replaced by new buildings.

Possible reasons for House Sparrow decline in urban habitats

1. Recution in the availability of favoured food

2. Increased levels of pollution in urban and suburban habitats

3. Loss of suitable nesting sites

4. Increased prevalence of disease

5. Changes in the use and type of loft insulation

6. Increased levels of predation

Some Sparrow Facts and Figures:
*There are still between six and seven million pairs of House Sparrow in Britain.
*In the 1970s there were 12 million pairs.
*Just over half of British House Sparrows occur in southern and central-eastern England.
*House Sparrow populations have declined most in eastern England (90% since 1970) and south-east England (65%).
*Numbers are currently thought to be increasing in Scotland and Wales (see below).
*Rural gardens appear to be the most favoured habitat for the species.
*Declines in the wider countryside took place between 1980 and 1995.
*Declines in suburban and urban gardens started in about 1984 and are still continuing.
*There are particular hotspots where declines are greatest. In London there was a 59% decline in House Sparrow numbers between 1994 and 2000.

Info from BTO.