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| Mild UK winter boosts sightings of smaller garden birds | Mild UK winter boosts sightings of smaller garden birds |
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| A mild winter has boosted the number of small birds visiting UK gardens, with the long-tailed tit returning to the top 10 most commonly seen species for the first time in seven years, according to results from the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. | A mild winter has boosted the number of small birds visiting UK gardens, with the long-tailed tit returning to the top 10 most commonly seen species for the first time in seven years, according to results from the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. |
| Recorded sightings of the tiny, sociable tit rose by 44% on 2015 figures and the species was seen in more than a quarter of participants’ gardens. Other small garden bird species that are thought to have benefitted from the warmer weather include the great tit and coal tit. | Recorded sightings of the tiny, sociable tit rose by 44% on 2015 figures and the species was seen in more than a quarter of participants’ gardens. Other small garden bird species that are thought to have benefitted from the warmer weather include the great tit and coal tit. |
| About 519,000 people across the UK counted 8.2 million birds for the RSPB’s 37th Big Garden Birdwatch. The annual survey asks members of the public to spend an hour counting the birds in their gardens and local parks during the last weekend of January, to help compile a snapshot of the UK’s bird populations. | About 519,000 people across the UK counted 8.2 million birds for the RSPB’s 37th Big Garden Birdwatch. The annual survey asks members of the public to spend an hour counting the birds in their gardens and local parks during the last weekend of January, to help compile a snapshot of the UK’s bird populations. |
| The house sparrow remains the most commonly seen garden bird, with an average of 4.2 birds per garden and was seen in 61% of gardens, followed by the starling (2.9 birds, 39% of gardens) and blue tit (2.8, 79%). | The house sparrow remains the most commonly seen garden bird, with an average of 4.2 birds per garden and was seen in 61% of gardens, followed by the starling (2.9 birds, 39% of gardens) and blue tit (2.8, 79%). |
| However, some species continue to decline in the long-term, with 58% less house sparrows and 80% less starlings seen in 2016 than in 1979 when the count began. Chaffinches (-46%), greenfinches (-44%) and blackbirds (-38%) have also seen significant reductions. But there have also been increases over the same period for woodpigeon (1,052%), collared dove (305%) and coal tits (273%). | However, some species continue to decline in the long-term, with 58% less house sparrows and 80% less starlings seen in 2016 than in 1979 when the count began. Chaffinches (-46%), greenfinches (-44%) and blackbirds (-38%) have also seen significant reductions. But there have also been increases over the same period for woodpigeon (1,052%), collared dove (305%) and coal tits (273%). |
| Related: Quiz: how well do you know your UK garden birds? | Related: Quiz: how well do you know your UK garden birds? |
| RSPB conservationists said an increase in sightings of the long-tailed tit, alongside other smaller garden birds such as the coal tit (up 25% since last year) and great tit (up 15%), could be attributed to the mild weather in the months leading up to the birdwatch. | RSPB conservationists said an increase in sightings of the long-tailed tit, alongside other smaller garden birds such as the coal tit (up 25% since last year) and great tit (up 15%), could be attributed to the mild weather in the months leading up to the birdwatch. |
| The winter of 2015-16 is on track to become the warmest ever recorded in England and Wales, and the third warmest on record for the UK as a whole, according to preliminary figures from the Met Office released earlier this month. The UK mean temperature from 1 December to 24 February was 5.6C – well above the long-term average of 3.7C. | The winter of 2015-16 is on track to become the warmest ever recorded in England and Wales, and the third warmest on record for the UK as a whole, according to preliminary figures from the Met Office released earlier this month. The UK mean temperature from 1 December to 24 February was 5.6C – well above the long-term average of 3.7C. |
| Small birds such as the long-tailed tit, which weighs little more than a 50p coin, are more likely to be killed off during cold weather - partly because of their size but also because as the insects they rely on for food are hard to find in frost and snow. From the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, a series of bitter winters caused the population to plummet, but a long run of mild winters brought the species into the top 10 garden birds for the first time in 2009. | Small birds such as the long-tailed tit, which weighs little more than a 50p coin, are more likely to be killed off during cold weather - partly because of their size but also because as the insects they rely on for food are hard to find in frost and snow. From the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, a series of bitter winters caused the population to plummet, but a long run of mild winters brought the species into the top 10 garden birds for the first time in 2009. |
| Milder conditions are likely to have contributed to a higher survival rate this year, according to RSPB conservation scientist, Dr Daniel Hayhow: “The increase in long-tailed tit sightings, along with other smaller garden birds, just goes to show that in the absence of very cold weather these species can survive the winter months in much great numbers.” | |
| Longer term, the increase may also be explained by the way long-tailed tits and other smaller birds have adapted to feeding on seeds and peanuts at bird tables or from hanging feeders. Since 2006 the average number of long-tailed tits seen in UK gardens has increased by 52%, while great tit numbers have gone up by 13% and coal tit by 9%. | Longer term, the increase may also be explained by the way long-tailed tits and other smaller birds have adapted to feeding on seeds and peanuts at bird tables or from hanging feeders. Since 2006 the average number of long-tailed tits seen in UK gardens has increased by 52%, while great tit numbers have gone up by 13% and coal tit by 9%. |
| In other garden bird figures released this month, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)’s Garden BirdWatch showed that cold, wet weather in the spring of 2015 resulted in a particularly poor breeding season for blackbirds, great tits and blue tits, with numbers all well below average during the second half of 2015. | In other garden bird figures released this month, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)’s Garden BirdWatch showed that cold, wet weather in the spring of 2015 resulted in a particularly poor breeding season for blackbirds, great tits and blue tits, with numbers all well below average during the second half of 2015. |
| Clare Simm, from the BTO, said: “While numbers of some of our common garden birds were low, the good news is that we had a mild winter and overwinter survival should have been high, boosting numbers at the start of 2016.” | Clare Simm, from the BTO, said: “While numbers of some of our common garden birds were low, the good news is that we had a mild winter and overwinter survival should have been high, boosting numbers at the start of 2016.” |