Flying into the top ten
And the long-tailed tit has flown into the top ten for the first time in the survey’s 30-year history. Numbers of this highly sociable species nearly doubled compared to last year.
The increase is being linked to the mild winters leading up to 2009. Small, insect eating birds like long tailed tits are particularly susceptible to the cold as the food they rely on is hard to come by in frosts and snow so milder conditions have contributed to a higher survival rate.
Over the last ten years the long-tailed tit has also adapted to feeding on seeds and peanuts at bird tables and from hanging feeders. This behaviour has spread as they’ve learnt from each other that tables and feeders offer a wide variety of food.
Whereas a few years ago most people simply put out peanuts, the increasing range of food being left out may be more suitable for birds such as long-tailed tits.
The world's biggest birdwatch
The first Big Garden Birdwatch took place 30 years ago when 30,000 children started the survey. It is now the biggest bird survey in the world.
Big Garden Birdwatch co-ordinator Sarah Kelly, said: “We’re thrilled to have well over half a million people taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch. This is a great way for people to get closer to nature and enjoy the benefits of feeding their garden birds.“
Numbers of all but one of the top ten birds have increased slightly since last year. Only starling numbers have dropped although they retain the number two slot.
Sarah Kelly says: “Many species have seen a very slight increase in the last year. The significant increase in long-tailed tit sightings highlights the impact that feeding can have on some species. They have only started coming to feeders fairly recently, and more people are seeing them as this behaviour develops.”
Movers and shakers
The goldfinch dropped out of the top ten rankings after its entry for the first time last year. The goldfinch and the greenfinch slipped by a place each this year although both species have steadily increased in recent years.
The striking siskin, which made it into the top 20 for the first time in the survey’s history last year, dropped back to number 26.
Sarah Kelly, added: “Gardens can be an excellent habitat for birds and as more and more people realise the importance of feeding and gardening for wildlife we are seeing an increasing variety of birds on our tables and feeders.
“Birds like waxwing for example are a surprising find in gardens. This winter we’ve had an influx of waxwings in the UK as the particularly cold weather in Scandinavia will likely have meant a poor crop of rowan berries.
“Gardens with berry bearing shrubs and trees are much more likely to attract these colourful visitors during their brief stay in the UK and this year the waxwing has leapt to number 59 compared to number 72 last year.
“This year’s survey took place on a chilly weekend and garden birds are heavily reliant on the extra food we put out. It seems we were suitably paid back for our efforts and we need to continue – the changeable weather means they still need our help!”
Familiar favourites
Some of the UK’s most familiar species have suffered huge declines in the last three decades. The house sparrow has declined by 63% since the survey began in 1979, and the starling has dropped by 79%.
The house sparrow retained its top spot for the sixth year running with an average of 3.70 seen per garden. The starling, which is a former number one, came in at number two with an average of 3.21 per garden. The blackbird completed the top three with 2.84 per garden.