This weekend brings one of the biggest events in the RSPB’s calendar – the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, running from 27-29 January. Every year, around 700000 people take part, making the Birdwatch the largest citizen science survey in the UK.
The Big Garden Birdwatch is vital in raising the alarm to changes in bird populations. Last time on this blog, we looked at the recorded decline in house sparrows. The Birdwatch was also one of the first surveys to alert the RSPB to the sad decline in the number of song thrushes in gardens. Since 1979, song thrush sightings during Big Garden Birdwatch have dropped by 81%. Similarly, the number of greenfinches recorded has dropped by 70%, from number seven in 1979 to number 18 in 2022. This particular drop has been linked to trichomonosis, a parasite-induced disease that prevents the birds from feeding properly. This can spread through bird feeders, highlighting the importance of keeping our bird feeders and bird tables clean.
On a more cheerful note, the Big Garden Birdwatch can also alert us to increases in bird populations. One such piece of good news is the success of the goldfinch. Goldfinch numbers in gardens increased by 50% over the last decade. They first entered the top 10 in the Birdwatch in 2008 and by 2022 came in at number seven! These pretty birds, with their striking red and yellow markings, often travel into our gardens in groups called ‘charms’, searching for food together. Their long, pointed bills help them to extract small seeds from plants such as ragwort, dandelions and teasels, and it is thought that the increase in people putting such seeds out in their gardens has contributed significantly to the increase in goldfinches counted. So if you haven't already, now is a great time to put out a special feeder with nyger seeds to attract your local goldfinches in time for the Big Garden Birdwatch! Or, thinking more long term, you could plant some teasels in your garden. As well as providing a welcome food source for goldfinches, the seedheads look amazing when sparkling with frost on a winter’s morning!
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis, feeding from a garden feeder
Photo: John Bridges (rspb-images.com)
Great tits have also been moving up the table. Now at number eight, they are up 54% since 1979. It is thought that increased efforts by lots of us to provide food and next boxes in our gardens have contributed significantly to the success of the great tit. So why not put a nest box into your garden ready for the spring season? And if you already have a nest box, now is the last chance for this winter to give it a good clean out. Soon the birds will be starting to investigate possible nesting sites for 2023, so by then your nest boxes shouldn't be disturbed. And if there are any unhatched eggs left in the box, it's actually illegal to remove them after the end of January.
It's great to see the impact of additions such as nest boxes, bird feeders and planting for wildlife having positive effects in our gardens, that can be measured in surveys such as the Big Garden Birdwatch. Hopefully you'll see lots of birds in your gardens this weekend. And although RSPB Flatford Wildlife Garden is now shut for the winter, it will open specially on the 28 & 29 January from 10.30am - 3.30pm. Happy counting!
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