Latest news with #BigGardenBirdwatch
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners issued warning over mowing lawns in May as beautiful creature at risk
This majestic garden creature is dropping in numbers, according to conservation experts, but keeping your grass long and conserving certain plants could help it thrive once more While trimming your lawn can be a great way to keep it neat, experts warn you may be endangering butterflies. These majestic creatures have sharply dropped in population in the UK – and lawn mowing is partly to blame. According to the results of Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count, 2024 was one of the worst years on record for butterflies - the fifth-worst year since records began. Conservation specialists now say that over half of butterfly species are in long-term decline. And worryingly, mowing your lawn too frequently could be a major factor. This is because butterflies prefer a mixture of grass lengths to provide adequate food and shelter. They also like when weeds such as dandelions are left to flower. Robin Griffiths, who is part of the Wiltshire branch of Butterfly Conservation, told the BBC: "When you mow your lawn, don't mow it all. To mow the lawn completely and regularly through the summer does very little for insects." He urged gardeners to exercise restraint when it comes to their grass over the summer season. Butterflies typically emerge from the chrysalis in spring and summer, with summer being a time of peak activity for the insects. Not all species have been equally impacted, either. Robin highlighted that the tortoiseshell butterfly – known for its orange speckled wings – has been one of the worst affected. He continued: "The most desperate of the lot is the small tortoise shell which many people know and love as a garden butterfly. Since the 70s it's declined by 86%." Although, human activity is just one element involved in the decline of the tortoiseshell. Climate change and pesticide use has also played a major role, according to conservation groups. Maurice Avent, the vice president at the Butterfly Conservation, explained to the BBC how farming was impacting the creatures. Largely, it's down to how farming practices have changed in modern times. Before, he continued, hay fields were composed of many different species of flowers and grass living together. Whereas now, a single crop is being used to make hay. Allowing your garden to grow more freely can create a far more diverse environment, which is ideal for butterflies. It can also allow other creatures to thrive. Starlings have also experienced a decline in numbers over recent years, according to the 2025 RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch. Part of the blame comes down to reduced food and shelter due to disruptive farming practices.
Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Starlings will thrive if you add these four things to bird feeders in April
As starling numbers dwindle across the UK, bird-lovers have been urged to leave four simple foods out in order to entice them back into their gardens year after year As starling numbers fall to record lows in the UK, gardeners have been urged to feed them four specific food scraps to help them thrive. According to the 2025 RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch, fewer starlings than ever have been spotted by UK bird watchers. Almost 600,000 survey participants across the UK noted which birds were spotted most frequently across the country. In a troubling report, starlings have now fallen out of the top three most commonly spotted birds. One of Britain's most majestic creatures, starlings are easily distinguished by their dark, incandescent plumage and range of tonal bird calls. However, if certain steps aren't taken to protect them, their numbers could plummet. Across the UK, bird numbers have dropped significantly over the past few decades. In fact, there has been a staggering 16% drop across all bird species in the UK since 1970, according to government data. One of the most notable reasons for this is the loss in natural habitat due to farming practices. This includes the overuse of pesticides, which causes harm to birds and which ravages their natural food supply. A great way to counteract this is by leaving them out food in bird feeders or on bird tables. Birds generally enjoy food with a high fat content, such as suet, nuts and seeds. However, certain species, like starlings, take a particular liking to specific food scraps. A bird enthusiast has revealed that if you're looking to attract more starlings to your garden, then you should take care to feed them mealworms, currents, sultanas and raisins. In a RSPB forum, one person wondered how to encourage starlings to keep returning to their vicinity. They wrote: 'I see [starlings] at my garden feeder and would like to encourage them to come back next year. any tips on what I can do to encourage them back, what do they like to eat etc?' A commenter quickly replied: 'They…like dried mealworms and currents / raisins / sultanas.' Although, they added that these foods are 'best served in a suspended dish with a cover so that they are not taken by pigeons.' Mealworms are starling favourites as they contain high amounts of protein. This is incredibly important, especially during breeding season, as it encourages healthy growth. Meanwhile, dried fruits like sultanas and currents also make important food sources, as they provide much-needed vitamins and minerals. Plus, they have a naturally sweet taste, which starlings love. The commenter also suggested that starling fans could make 'raw bird pastry', which they described as the 'cheapest form of bird food available'. This consists of combining two parts flour with one part lard. Starlings enjoy this mix as it contains a high fat content, which sustains them through the unpredictable springtime weather. The goopy texture of raw pastry is also appealing to them.
The Guardian
16-04-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Garden birds need a hedge against decline
Re the declining numbers of birds that we are seeing (or not seeing) in our gardens, I believe that a significant contributing factor is the lack of garden hedges (Starlings fall to record low in UK's 2025 Big Garden Birdwatch, 11 April). Your report states that starlings like short grass so that they can watch out for predators, but smaller birds need hedging to retreat to for eating the food that they find in lawns and bird feeders. Unfortunately, most new housing seems to be built without hedging and, certainly where I live, many people have grubbed out their hedges and replaced them with timber fencing – OK for perching on, but not for providing protection. Geoff BunceHarpenden, Hertfordshire I was very sad to read that starlings are declining. I get 50 or 60 each day in my west London suburban garden. They are delightful to watch, especially when the babies come along. I put dried mealworms out for them, and always have fresh water nearby. I also never use pesticides and just happen to have a fairly short lawn (something I didn't realise they like until I read your article). It would be such a shame if these joy-giving birds were to decline any BarnesGreenford, London Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
BBC News
11-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Big Garden Birdwatch 2025: What were the results from this year?
Did you take part in this year's Big Garden Birdwatch? Almost 600,000 people across the UK took part this year, counting more than nine million have dropped out of UK's top three garden birds with the lowest number ever being sparrows have held onto top spot as the most spotted bird in UK gardens, with the blue tit holding onto the number two spot from last and blackbirds were also among the top five most recorded species in UK gardens. The Big Garden Birdwatch is the world's largest garden wildlife survey, which first began back in results show how much-loved garden birds in the UK are doing and what we can do to help birds and taking part are asked to count the number of each species they spotted in gardens, parks or other green spaces during a one-hour period over the last weekend in January. Should we be worried about starling numbers falling? Starlings are medium-sized birds that have shiny feathers with a purple and green sheen, and often with white spots during winter. They are also excellent mimics and can make a huge variety of tweets, cheeps and clicks. They can be found across the UK with the largest numbers seen during winter when birds arrive from Northern Europe. You might have even seem them gathering together to perform spectacular displays in the sky called despite these displays sometimes reaching hundreds of thousands of birds, starlings are a red listed species in the means they are a high conservation concern because their numbers are falling. Before the year 2000, starlings were one of the most numerous species recorded in the Big Garden Birdwatch. What can we do to help starlings? The RSPB's Chief Executive, Beccy Speight said: "With one in six species at risk of extinction from Great Britain, we've done more damage to our natural world than we realise. ""However, we can all do our bit to support these threatened birds by taking small actions that can not only benefit Starlings, but a wealth of other garden wildlife."Here are some top tips to help starlings:1. Avoid the use of pesticides - these are chemicals used on plants to stop them being damaged by bugs and insects, but can cause harm to other animals too2. If you have a garden, keeping a natural lawn, rather than paving, plastic grass or astroturf - this allows starlings to forage for insects3. Put up bird boxes which provide starlings with a ready made nesting site. A box with a 45mm entrance hole is the ideal size for these birds.
Telegraph
11-04-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Which wild birds are in your back garden? Use our interactive tool to find out
The sight of tiny sparrows fluttering between the branches of a hedge is a quintessential part of a walk in the countryside. Just as the repetitive 'tap-tap-tap' of the woodpecker, the 'flupt-flupt-flupt' flapping of the woodpigeon and the 'tchak' of a carrion crow are part of a walk through woodlands. But perhaps there is no bird as well ingrained in our collective culture than the red-breasted robin. As synonymous with Christmas as the other red-dressed fellow, and featuring in countless pieces of art and media, the robin is the nation's favourite bird – as well as one of our most common. According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), it is also one of the most common birds across our gardens, being spotted in over 80 per cent of the gardens that took part in this year's Big Garden Bird Watch. The 2025 Big Garden Bird Watch, which compiled data from nearly 600,000 amateur ornithologists across the UK, recorded 80 different species of bird. From the smallest song birds, to waterbirds, and mighty birds of prey. In all, nine million birds were spotted and counted. How many species were spotted in your local area? You can use our interactive tool below to browse the species recorded near you, and how your county compares with others across the UK. The most commonly spotted and recorded bird was the house sparrow, appearing in just under 60 per cent of gardens. Despite its spot at the top, outside of garden habitats the house sparrow is a struggling species. Its numbers dropped by nearly three-quarters between the late 1990s and nearly 2000s, and are still dropping, meaning it has been given a UK conservation status of red. Other species continue to struggle as well. The Starling has dropped from third to fourth place compared to last year's survey – with the lowest number of individuals ever recorded. The starling is a red-listed species and considered a high conservation concern. In 2000, it was the most populous bird recorded in the RSPB's Big Garden Bird Watch surveys. Beccy Speight, the RSPB chief executive, said: 'Starlings are one of our most charismatic garden birds, but this year's Big Garden Birdwatch results is a reason for concern. With one in six species at risk of extinction from Great Britain, we've done more damage to our natural world than we realise. However, we can all do our bit to support these threatened birds by taking small actions that can not only benefit starlings, but a wealth of other garden wildlife.' Which birds have you heard in your area? Click the videos to listen to the birdsong of several popular, and more elusive, species A common species the world over, the house sparrow is commonly associated with human settlements, being a common site in urban and suburban areas. A small brown bird, the males are brighter, with white and black markings. Females and young birds are typically paler. They have a loud, sometimes erratic, song used to both keep contact with their flock and in mating and nesting. Despite being a common bird, their numbers are dropping dramatically. Between 1977 and 2008, there was a 71 per cent reduction in the number of house sparrows across rural and urban populations. However, some surveys suggest their populations are increasing in Scotland and Wales. One of the most colourful regular garden visitors in the UK, the blue tit is instantly recognisable for its bright plumage. Unlike some other species, the males and females look remarkably similar, with the subtle difference being males having a more intense blue colour to their crown feathers. Like many of their related species, it is a sociable bird and can often be seen in large flocks feeding together. In the winter months, these flocks can include other species of tit, such as great tits. They are notable for their use of nesting boxes, which are claimed by a breeding pair for life who will return each year. On their death, another pair will claim the box. Voted the nation's favourite bird according to YouGov, the robin is synonymous with the countryside. One of the most common birds encountered in this year's Big Garden Bird Watch, it is characterised by its red breast, which is shared by both males and females, although younger birds might have a more golden tone to their breast feathers. Known to sing all year round, and at night, their song is cheerful and pleasing. Despite this, and their cute appearance, they are aggressively territorial birds, and will sing to defend their territory. They may not look like it, but jays are members of the wider crow family of birds (Corvidae). Much shyer than the common carrion crow, they are typically woodland birds, although have been spotted in more urban areas. Jays are strongly associated with the oak tree, being prolific acorn hoarders. They will take acorns in the autumn and bury them for retrieval in the winter months. A single bird may bury hundreds of acorns each year. They are so tightly associated with the tree that the latin name 'glandarius' translates to 'of acorns'. You will usually know one is close not by sight, but the sound of its screech-like call. They are known to also mimic the cries and calls of other birds, including buzzards. Another shy bird, the great spotted woodpecker will make itself known with its characteristic 'hammering'. You may be lucky to catch a glimpse however, recognisable by its crimson highlights which contrast their mostly black and white plumage. While the woodpecker has a 'cip'-like call, it is known for its hammering. Both sexes will hammer against trees, at a rate of 10 to 16 beats per second, although the male will do so more frequently. The hammering is both a means of communication and feeding, with the birds using their sharp, long beak to drill holes into tree bark in search of insects. They will eat a range of foods as well as this however, including seeds and nuts. The name Dendrocopos combines the Greek words dendron, 'tree', and kopos, 'striking'. Despite lacking the brighter colours of some other tits, the willow tit is a pretty bird nonetheless. With its black cap it looks very similar to, and is often confused with, the marsh tit. They are so similar in fact that the willow tit was not recognised in Britain until the end of the 19th century. However, in countries further east they are slightly paler than the marsh tit. The willow tit prefers rotten or soft wood for its nest, boring its own hole into the wood and filling it with fur and hair it collects. However, its nest can actually be predated by the great spotted woodpecker. A decline in the population of willow tits has gone hand in hand with a rise in that of the great spotted woodpecker.
