disappearing birds

[WShee9]

Is it me...or is it quite a lot of small birds we used to take for granted ,not around any-more...Im speaking of about 40 years or so....I dont see the same range of small birds anymore....anyone else on my wavelength?

[WShee9]

..noticing this?

[Chaffinch]

I think your right, when I was a child there was definatly more small birds around, and also in greater numbers too. Its a sad sign of our times I'm afraid, loss of habitat, farmland pesticides etc. :(

[WShee9]

Lose those little wee birds...and they might take us with them?....a worrying thought....

[Chaffinch]

Very worrying. There's a good thread in the environment section for us "birders", have a look and see whats going on all over the UK.

[WShee9]

Aroud about the year 1957 Mao Zedung declared birds as the enemy of the people....what happened next?They murdered millions of small birds....and then billions of insects could run riot....next thing -mass famine....So much for the great leap forward....

[ladybirder]

Yes, I am afraid the lovely Song Thrush, Sparrow, Skylark and even the Starling are all on the Red List of endangered species along with many others. So sad.

[cazzz1975]

I agree, there is a large incidence of carrion crows and magpies where I live now, I did not notice this until I put a birdfeeder in the garden and found the only birds eating seed were crows and magpies.

[Chaffinch]

Ladybirder, I just did the RSPB garden bird watch, and did'nt see a single Starling, thought this was very strange, but I did'nt know they were on the Red list, they were once so common, sad indeed.

[WShee9]

Yeah..Cazz....up here in Aberdeen ...millions of seagulls...millions of hooded crows ...no finches..no sparrows...nowrens...

[ladybirder]

Chaffinch do you normally see starlings in your garden then? All the birds I usually see have kept away today. They must know I'm counting them for the Big Birdwatch.

[WShee9]

So how do we address this....i dont know...

[LoftyLottie]

Sparrows are known to have declined in numbers dramatically, as have starlings, song thrushes and many others. A lot of it is to do with chemicals in farming and loss of natural habitat.

[WShee9]

So,Lofty how do we address this?

[LoftyLottie]

Make sure our gardens compensate to a degree. Have wild gardens with bird friendly plants and shrubs (and trees if necessary). Provide them with suitable food all year round. They need plants and shrubs providing food and shelter and places for nesting. Make your garden an oasis for birds. I have had to do this because we are surrounded by intensive farming. I have no shortage of birds, including the threatened species.

Avoid chemicals. And spread the word.................

[LoftyLottie]

farmers are now being encouraged to farm less instensively and be more wildlife friendly. They are getting paid for it!!

[Chaffinch]

Ladybirder, we used to get Starlings until about 3 years ago, now not a one.

I have no idea how we address this, apart from feeding them giving them water, providing nest boxes etc. I live in a rural area, and have left the hedge at the bottom of the garden to go a bit wild, and left the ivy in it, I supose we all have to do a small bit, to make one large bit !!!! does that make sence?

[WShee9]

Thats OK for the big birds...but its the wee birds im bothered about...

[lslowry]

I do a bird survey on farms for the RSPB every year in their volunteer and farmer alliance scheme, if you go on their website you will see the decline in years over a number of species, however, sparrowhawks and magpie have sharply increased.

[Chaffinch]

Islowry, yes there are some perks, I'd never seen a Red Kite until about 3 years ago, now I see a few a week! Birds of prey seem to be doing very well in my area.

[Esperanza]

We are lucky to have many birds in our garden, and yesterday had a pair of bullfinches, a blackcap, 4 long-tailed tits, 5 starlings, 4 goldfinches, 2 collared doves, 3 blackbirds, 2 wood pigeons, 15 chaffinches and 8 bluetits, 4 dunnocks , 3 bramblings and 3 great tits. Last year we had many greenfinches, but not one lately. The siskins have all disappeared too. I am feeding the birds twice daily lately, as it's so cold outside.