Sparrows remain the most common birds in British gardens despite their numbers dropping by nearly two thirds over the past 35 years.
But the results of the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch may have been skewed by this winter’s mild weather.
Numbers of species such as blackbirds, fieldfares and redwings may appear to have dropped since last year, but ornithologists say that, in many cases, this is not because they are in decline but because they don’t need to come into gardens during mild winters because there is plenty of natural food available in the wider countryside.
Blue tits are now the second most spotted garden bird – their highest position since the RSPB Birdwatch began in 1979.
Last year’s second most frequently seen species, blackbirds, dropped to fourth, while goldfinches have climbed to seventh. The robin dropped back to 10th. And, for the first time, the great spotted woodpecker squeezed into the top 20.
Numbers of starlings and song thrushes have dropped by 84 and 81 per cent respectively since 1979. Both species are on the “red list”, meaning they are of the highest conservation concern.
Richard Bashford, the Big Garden Birdwatch organiser, said: “2014 was always going to be an interesting Big Garden Birdwatch as the winter has been so mild, and we wondered if it would have a significant impact on garden birds. They were out in the wider countryside finding natural food instead of taking up our hospitality.
“The good news is that this may mean more birds in our gardens in the coming breeding season because more survived the mild winter. It is a great time to give nature a home by putting up a nesting box and supplementary feeding.”
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