It's not long now until the RSPB's annual Big Garden Birdwatch, running from 26-28 January 2024. As the world's largest garden wildlife survey, the Big Garden Birdwatch provides vital information on how different species are faring, giving data on declines and rises in numbers in the 45 years since the survey began. Across the UK, over half a million people took part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2023, counting an impressive 9.1 million birds! House sparrows took the top spot, with over 1.4 million individual sparrows counted. But despite this top spot, sparrow numbers are down by 57% compared to the first Birdwatch in 1979, a trend which is sadly repeated across many species seen in the Birdwatch.
With a period of wintry weather forecast, we're going to look today at a species whose numbers have fluctuated dramatically over the years of the Big Garden Birdwatch, due to its particular fragility. The long tailed tit, a much-loved species, rose five positions in the rankings in 2023, with numbers 39% higher than in 2022. However, long tailed tits are susceptible to harsh weather conditions, and some years their numbers show a worrying decline. Overall, despite these fluctuations, the trend is positive for the long tailed tit, with a 14% increase in the UK breeding population from 1995-2020. As this increase has been particularly seen in urban areas, it seems likely that our increased use of bird feeders is helping long tailed tits, as they adapt from their natural insectivore diet to a more varied winter diet supplemented by food that we put out.
At this time of year, you're likely to see long tailed tits travelling around in flocks of around 20 birds, usually just with other long tailed tits but sometimes with other tit species mixed in. It is thought that this is mainly in order to help keep each other warm through the long, cold winter nights. While their tails can make them look bigger, long tailed tits are in fact very tiny birds, weighing just 7-10g, so they quickly lose body heat in the winter. To combat this, the group of long tailed tits get very busy as dusk approaches, feeding up before selecting a nice thick shrub or tree to roost in. Within the confines of the branches the birds huddle together. By snuggling up closely with the other members of the flock, who are often related, they minimise the amount of heat they lose.
By February, if the weather is starting to warm sufficiently, the long tailed tit flocks will start to disperse and the birds will pair up to breed. The breeding season starts early for these little birds because their amazingly intricate nests take such a long time to build and prepare - more of these wonderful nests here on the blog in the spring.
Long tailed tits are very active feeders, hunting out insects and spiders among the smaller branches and leaves of trees in woodlands. But nowadays they are also well-adapted to gardens and towns and will visit bird tables and feeders. So why not start to prepare for the Big Garden Birdwatch by putting out some foods that long tailed tits (and other birds!) will love. Probably the best way of attracting long tailed tits is with suet balls or a suet block in a special cage, or suet pellets in a mesh feeder. Peanuts in a mesh feeder are also a favourite of this truly delightful little bird. Remember to clean your feeders regularly to prevent disease and to also put out fresh water for birds. The birds will be grateful for your help through the coming cold days, and will hopefully become well established in your garden in time for the count later in January.
Long tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus, flock at bird feeder in January
Genevieve Leaper (rspb-images.com)
Although Flatford Wildlife Garden is currently closed for the winter, it will open specially for the weekend of the Big Garden Birdwatch, from 10:30-3:30 on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 January. Children will be able to explore the family garden trail and make a bird feeder to take home, cost £2 per child.