As the Big Garden Birdwatch rapidly approaches this weekend, we're going to take a look at one of the bird species we can help through the way we look after our gardens. Last time, we took a closer look at the long-tailed tit, a species which has, according to date collected through the decades of the Big Garden Birdwatch, been relatively successful. This time, we're focusing on a bird that has fared dramatically worse - the song thrush.
Big Garden Birdwatch was one of the first surveys to alert the RSPB to the decline in the number of song thrushes in gardens. Since 1979 song thrush sightings have dropped by more than 80%. First ranked at number 10, in 2023 they came in at number 20. The song thrush is essentially a woodland bird that has adapted to use our parks and gardens for feeding and breeding. So what can we do in our gardens to help slow, and maybe even reverse, this decline?
When they do come into gardens, song thrushes are unlikely to approach feeders or food put out onto the ground or a bird table. So to attract them to our garden we may need to think of adopting and developing more wildlife friendly approaches across the whole garden.
Song thrush Turdus philomelos, adult standing on paving in garden
Steve Round (rspb-images.com)
Song thrushes love eating worms. The UK has 29 different species of worm and they are essential both for our soil and our wildlife. They turn the soil, allowing it to breathe while recycling and enriching it. As well being vital food for song thrushes and other birds, they provide food for many garden species, including hedgehogs, frogs, toads, beetles, shrews and badgers. So how can we make sure our gardens contain as many worms as possible? A great way to start is by reducing the area of hard surfacing and paving in our gardens, allowing the earth to breathe and worms to thrive. Making your own compost from kitchen scraps and digging it into your soil is another great way to boost worm numbers. There's lots more more information about worms and how to help them here.
Thrushes also love eating berries and fruit, so planting berry rich shrubs, such as cotoneaster, or fruit trees like crabapple will also help them. They are also well known for eating snails, especially when the ground is too hard (from cold or drought) to find plentiful worms. They use a stone as an anvil on which to smash the snail. So although snails can be a nuisance to gardeners, you'll be doing the song thrushes a big favour if you can encourage rather than try to eliminate snails from your gardens.
So this week is a great time not only to fill up your bird feeders ready for the Big Garden Birdwatch, but also to have a look around and plan how you could help struggling birds such as the song thrush throughout your garden. Then why not find an hour on the 26th, 27th or 28th January to see how many birds you have in your own garden. Instructions for the Big Garden Birdwatch can be found here, along with information to help you identify the birds you're most likely to see. As well as spending enjoyable time with wildlife, you'll be providing the RSPB with valuable data that will help identify trends of decline or success. And you might even be lucky enough to spot a song thrush!
Flatford Wildlife Garden will be open this weekend for the Big Garden Birdwatch, from 10.30-3.30. At this special event, children can explore the family trail and make a bird feeder to take home (cost £2 per child).