SAY FAREWELL TO THE WONDROUS SONG THRUSH - A SPECIES IN LONG-TERM UK DECLINE

Species in retreat - the song thrush (Photo: RSPB)

IS there no end to the steady disappearance of song thrushes from British gardens?

Results from the 2019 Big Garden Birdwatch, conducted by the RSPB, indicate that it has declined by about 77 per cent since the scheme started 40 years ago.

It is a similar story for the starling - although it remains the second most commonly bird seen in UK gardens.

On the plus side, coal tits are up by nearly 245 per cent over the same period since 1979, and goldfinches have increased by around 70 per cent since the early 2000s.

The top ten in order of most seen this year is as follows:

1 House sparrow 

2 Starling

3 Blue tit

4 Blackbird

5 Woodpigeon

6 Goldfinch

7 Great tit

8 Robin  

9 Chaffinch

10 Magpie


A total of 472,558  people took part in the survey.

Read more at:
 https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/results/#utlVPJ00OdUjKOmW.99

The Wryneck says: The RSPB is right to draw attention to the plight of the song thrush. But what is it doing a) to establish the cause and b) to seek to reverse the trend? Answers - sooner rather than later. Or it may become too late!