Blackbirds the most common birds spotted at Kent schools (From News Shopper)

Blackbirds the most common birds spotted at Kent schools

10:48am Thursday 21st March 2013 in News By Alan Woods

BLACKBIRDS and starlings dominate school grounds in Kent, according to the results of a national survey.

More than 3,700 pupils from 59 schools across the county counted the birds they could see outside for one hour in January.

The results showed an average of seven blackbirds were spotted in 98 per cent of schools whilst four starlings were spied in 59 per cent.

Woodpigeons, blue tits and magpies were also spotted at more than 70 per cent of schools but in much lesser numbers than the blackbirds and the starlings.

RSPB south east youth and education officer Don Fuller said: “It’s wonderful to see this jump in numbers among garden birds like starlings. “These are species that have suffered substantial losses over many years.

“It highlights the important role that school grounds and playing fields can have, not only as vital places for free play and active, healthier children, but as homes for some of our most threatened wildlife.”

These figures will contributed to the results of the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, which will be published next week.

The most popular birds spotted in Kent school grounds

1. Blackbird
2. Starling
3. Woodpigeon
4. Blacked headed gull
5. House sparrow
6. Herring gull
7. Magpie
8. Carrion crow
9. Blue tit
10. Common gull