Long-tailed tits flock back to gardens

Published on Tuesday 10 March 2009 20:48

LONG-TAILED tits have experienced the biggest increase yet recorded in an annual survey carried out by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

The tiny birds have bucked a trend that has seen populations of many species decline in the past year.

They were spotted in 43 per cent of gardens that took part in BTO's Garden BirdWatch survey in the last week of 2008. This was a large increase on the previous year, when they were seen in just 25 per cent of gardens over the corresponding period.

Experts believe the record increase could be due to a run of mild winters in recent years.

BTO research suggests the birds have been laying their eggs earlier in spring, probably in response to climatic changes.

This means they could have avoided the damaging effects of early summer rains that have hit other nesting species.

In contrast, robins, garden warblers and great tits had their worst breeding season ever recorded in 2008.

Mild winters could have also helped the long-tailed tit.

The birds, which weigh less than 10g, are particularly susceptible to severe weather, and populations can crash dramatically during cold snaps.