Birdsong vanishing from our gardens (From The Argus)

Birdsong vanishing from our gardens

9:44am Thursday 24th January 2008 in News

The sound of songbirds is disappearing from gardens across Sussex with new figures expected to show numbers falling even further this year.

The dwindling population of common birds such as blue tits and starlings is being blamed on last year's wet summer.

But the warmer winters have proved a tonic for others such as goldfinches which are expected to break into the county's top ten most common birds for the first time.

More than 13,700 Sussex homes took part in the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Big Garden Bird Watch last year, with 990 in Brighton alone.

But the wildlife charity is hoping even more households will join the armies of twitchers this weekend to provide a greater understanding of the region's changing bird population.

Up to half a million people are expected to take part in this year's Big Garden Birdwatch.

The results from last year's survey showed that although the starling remained the most common garden bird, numbers are declining dramatically.

In 1991 results showed an average of 11 starlings in East Sussex gardens, with nine in West Sussex.

This average dropped to four for both areas last year, while Brighton figures showed a marginally better average of five.

The RSPB anticipates the biggest changes will be seen in blue tit numbers, with the species currently the third most common bird in Sussex gardens.

Blue tits normally have just one brood per year but 2007 saw marginally more than half of their young fledgling.

It is better news for the colourful goldfinch which is expected to break into the Sussex top ten for first time in the survey's 29-year history.

"The birds usually migrate to southern Europe for the winter, but the RSPB is expecting more to stay in the UK this year due to milder temperatures.

Dr Andre Farrar, of the RSPB, said: "UK temperatures continue to rise, the last six years being the warmest on record.

"Over the same time, numbers of goldfinches seen in gardens during the Big Garden Birdwatch have steadily increased.

"Last year they were placed 11th across the UK. They would certainly make an attractive addition to the 2008 top ten."

Sarah Kelly, the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch co-ordinator, said: "The great thing about Big Garden Birdwatch is that anyone can do it.

"You don't need to be an expert, all you need is a pen and paper. It is easy, it is fun and it only takes an hour.

"Grab a cuppa, sit down, relax and enjoying looking at your garden and the birds in it. Just record the highest number of each species seen at any one time and send us your results."

• Visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch for more information and to submit your results online.
• For more information on gardening for wildlife log onto www.rspb.org.uk/hfw
• Will you be taking part in the Big Bird Watch? Let us know below

andrew.robbins@theargus.co.uk