Eight in 10 of Britain's most popular birds in decline

Eighty per cent of Britain's most popular birds are facing decline, the RSPB has warned after its biggest-ever Big Garden Birdwatch.

The world's largest wildlife survey, now in its 42nd year, found that 16 out of the 20 most spotted garden birds faced a decline on the previous year. More species face decline than in 2020, when half the birds in the top 20 saw dwindling numbers.

During the last weekend in January, over a million people across the UK took part, counting 17 million birds, as households looked for a way to spend the weekend in lockdown.

The study found that the house sparrow held on to its number one spot but 16 out of the top 20 bird species showed declines in average counts compared to last year. Only robins, blackbirds, carrion crows and the song thrush saw an increase on 2020.

Loss of habitat and food is the reason most birds have seen decreases since the birdwatch first began, and the RSPB has asked people to make room in all their outdoor space, including windowsills, for birds.

Beccy Speight, RSPB chief executive said: “One way you can help revive our world is to bring nature to you. Your garden, balcony, and even windowsill are potential havens for wildlife, and in April we’re launching a digital platform, Nature on Your Doorstep, to help show you how.”

Conservationists hope that this trend for song thrushes will continue; in 1979, the bird was in the top 10, and its numbers have declined by 78 per cent since then. This year, it is the 20th most spotted bird.

There are concerns about the chaffinch and greenfinch, which have been seen in their lowest ever numbers this year. Both birds are impacted by the disease Trichomonosis, which can kill. To combat the illness, it is advised people clean their bird tables and replace seed regularly.

The British Trust for Ornithology recently started an urgent appeal into the disappearance of our chaffinches, as there are fears they could be lost for good as a common bird.

Martin Harper, head of conservation at the RSPB, told The Telegraph: "If I am honest, I am worried about chaffinches, we have known for a while that chaffinches are being affected by the same disease greenfinches are, but I think that while we knew about it 15 or 16 years ago, the trend is looking more worrying than initially thought.

"Sadly, one of our most well known garden birds has real cause for concern about this disease. That was the one I was most worried about and surprised by.

"The house sparrow is remaining at the top but there is a suggestion that the trend is shifting a bit over the last decade, we are hopeful that the house sparrow's long term decline is plateauing out. The medium term trend is more positive. Unlike greenfinches and chaffinches where we have a pretty good idea of the problem being disease, we did a lot of work on the reasons for the decline of house sparrows but never got a clear causal link. For all birds, they need enough food to rear their chicks and survive winter, as well as enough places to shelter."

The starling slid down the ranking from 2^nd place for the first time since 2010, with numbers down 83 per cent since 1979. The cause of the starling decline in the UK is unknown, and because of this decline in numbers, the starling is red listed as a bird of high conservation concern.

Despite the bad news for many garden birds, the RSPB is enthusiastic that the last year has made people develop more of an appreciation for nature, so they may be galvanised to help the birds.

Ms Speight added: “We have been blown away by the enthusiasm with which people have taken part in the Birdwatch this year. Lockdowns have brought few benefits, but the last year has either started or reignited a love of nature for many people, right on their doorsteps.

“This winter has been a bleak ordeal but as the dawn chorus starts to burst into song and the blossom starts to flower from the trees once more, we are emerging from this pandemic a new generation of nature lovers.

“We hope the Birdwatch has kindled a new passion for wildlife for the thousands who took part for the first time this year – we need every voice raised to stand up for nature. The wildlife that gave us so much interest and solace is now just a fraction of what should be there. On the back of this wave of public support, we need the government to take the global leadership, policy and legislative opportunities open to it this year to reverse the decline and restore nature now.”