Around 30,000 people took part in this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch in Wales, counting over 500,000 birds.
However, despite the high number of recorded birds, one familiar visitor is on the rapid decrease. The numbers of starlings visiting our gardens are at an all time low, and the survey shows that the species has declined by 60% in the past 16 years alone. The survey was first introduced in 1979, where the average recorded number of starlings seen was 15, this year it was a mere 4. Now RSPB experts are investigating possible reasons why the species has suffered such a decrease, with factors such as feeding habits and changes beneath the soil, which could reduce the number of insects available for them to eat.
The news is similar across the rest of northern Europe sadly, which explains why fewer starlings are visiting the UK during the winter months. The results of this year’s survey have prompted the species to be red listed as a bird of high conservation concern. Murmurations of starlings have also declined, despite the displays sometimes consisting of over 100,000 birds.
In other news, goldfinches have increased in Wales, rising to 8th place. The survey features huge increases for blue tits and great tits. The species’ enjoyed an 87% and 144% increase respectively since the first survey in 1979. This could be due to the high number of garden feeders available for them to survive the winter months, as well as steady levels of hedge/woodland management, which essentially provide more nest sites.
