Watch the Birdie!

It'a a snapshot but an interesting snapshot. More than 1 million people took part in the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 'Big Garden Bird Watch' in 2021 (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/09/sixteen-of-britains-top-20-garden-birds-have-declined-in-number-annual-survey-finds). The Big Garden Bird Watch, involved self-volunteering participants, counting the numbers of each species of birds they saw in their gardens (or from a balcony). Participants could choose any full hour of observation between the 29th and 31st of January 2021. Observers were instructed not to count birds in flight and were given advice on species to 'look out for'. The Covid-19 pandemic probably motivated even more 'twitchers' in 2021. As usual, the House sparrow was the most commonly-observed species. Only Robins, Blackbirds, Carrion crows and Song thrush showed increases on the 2020 figures. In 2021, the other 16 of Britain's top 20 garden birds, all declined in numbers. Green finch and Chaffinch especially continued on downward trajectories. The Starling, has shown a most drammatic fall, since the Big Garden Bird Watch started, declining in numbers by 83%, since 1979.