Scotland’s bird numbers continue to decline

SOME of Scotland’s best-loved birds are in decline, according to a new survey.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said the results of its Big Garden Birdwatch show that sightings of starlings fell 7 per cent this year. The numbers of house sparrows in gardens also dropped, by almost 8 per cent, compared with last year’s survey.

Sightings of both the wren and long-tailed tit were down a respective 7 per cent and 67 per cent in the last week in January when the birdwatch took place. Wren populations can recover quickly after a good breeding season, according to the RSPB, but have failed to bounce back after a series of colder winters.

About 47,000 people in Scotland took part in the survey, each spending an hour counting the birds that visited their gardens, parks or school grounds.

The house sparrow was the most commonly spotted, followed by the chaffinch, starling, blackbird and blue tit. Keith Morton from RSPB Scotland said: “We know from the sheer number of people who take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch that garden birds are incredibly popular. They are a joy to watch and many people go to real efforts to provide extra food and water when conditions are difficult.”

While the decline of some species continues this year, there were increased sightings of winter migrants such as brambling, waxwings and fieldfares, the RSPB said.