There's something odd about London.
It's not the sudden outbreak of happiness and politeness that's spread like a virus from the Olympic Park, nor the emptier roads, it's the quiet decline of thrushes, especially blackbirds.
Seriously, London is the only place in the UK where the number of blackbirds have dropped, and they've fallen by almost a quarter (22% according to the latest Breeding Bird Survey [BBS]. We're also losing mistle and song thrushes. Why is London losing its blackbirds. This plain member of the thrush family has been happily living in UK gardens for centuries, but suddenly it's vanishing.
I suspect there are a variety of causes, just as there are with the other garden birds that are dwindling in London. These include mallard duck, feral pigeon, swift, starling and of course our poor old cockney house sparrow.
It's so tempting to speculate on the change. So having a weak will, I'll chuck a few suggestions in to the mix.
Habitat and food.
London's losing green spaces to development or poor land management. Some 600,000 homes in the capital have lost 85 per cent or more of their front gardens and back gardens are being patioed, decked or built over as housing density increases. This means there's not enough food or nesting space for thrushes.
Noise and pollution.
An idea under investigation but so far unproved.
Disease.
Nothing recognised or identified by modern science to datde.
Predation.
Nothing can eat its way through that many birds and anecdotal evidence doesn't support the theory for thrushes.
Alien invasion.
Don't laugh. I don't mean little green men, this refers to species not normally found in the UK such as ring necked parakeets or wasp spiders, which compete for food and shelter. Not that RNP or wasp spiders compete with blackbirds.
Mobile phone signals and electromagnetic radiation
This is being looked into but so far, evidence has been a thin on the ground.
Boredom
Who could possibly be bored with London, especially right now!
Having sat tight-lipped through a London House presentation at City Hall from scientist, author and coal-mining businessman Matt Ridley, I know figures can be manipulated to deliver any message you want.
The sad fact remains, London's losing medium-sized garden birds that rely on bugs and seed common to grassy, lawned habitats to survive. The birds doing well, and that's a subject for another day, are tiny tits, the dunnock, robin and ...oh my word, goldfinches (up 242% bless them).