British Birds Home

Huge numbers of birds have swept into gardens over the last few days, latest results from the BTO Garden BirdWatch reveal.

Fieldfares and Redwings have led the charge. Compared with the preceding week – when thousands of people took part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch – over five times as many Fieldfares have recently been seen in gardens, and over twice as many Redwings.

The results, collected by participants in the year-round BTO Garden BirdWatch survey, show that numbers of other thrushes, such as Song Thrush (up 72%) and Mistle Thrush (up 49%), have also increased hugely over the past week. Numbers of Blackbirds are up by a third.

Gardens have been inundated across the UK, even where snow has not settled. In southwest England, for instance, where conditions are typically milder than elsewhere, numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare have rocketed. Here and in Wales, gardens are likely to be providing a refuge for many birds displaced from farther north and east.

The exciting activity, featuring notable increases of Pied Wagtails, Wood Pigeons, Bramblings, Wrens and Jays (see table), shows just how much things can change in a week.

Tim Harrison, from BTO Garden BirdWatch, commented: ‘Many householders will be really disappointed that this huge influx of birds has come a week too late for their RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch count. Thankfully, however, people can make their garden count all year round through BTO Garden BirdWatch.’

Data collected by BTO volunteers show how sensitive our resident bird populations are to severe winter weather. Last winter’s cold snap saw numbers of Robins and Wrens drop by a third, Song Thrushes by a quarter and Dunnocks by a fifth, compared with the five-year average. Fortunately, many of these losses were offset by a bumper breeding season during 2011 but there are now lots of inexperienced birds out there feeling the cold.

He continued: ‘The survival of these birds is on a knife-edge but there is much that householders can do to help. Peanuts, finely grated cheese and beef suet can provide a calorific hit; windfall or fresh fruit will help sustain thrushes, and sunflower hearts are a particular favourite with finches. The other important way to help is by counting your visitors. You can do this whatever the weather through BTO Garden BirdWatch.’

For a free BTO Garden BirdWatch enquiry pack, email gbw@bto.org, tel. 01842 750050, or write to GBW, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU.