Starlings top birdwatch survey

9:35am Tuesday 29th April 2008

STARLINGS are the most common bird in London, an annual report shows.

More than 20,000 Londoners took part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch annual survey across 14,000 gardens on January 26 and January 27.

They were asked to record the number of birds of any one species which they saw in their garden during a one-hour period of their choice.

The results show the second most common bird is the woodpigeon, followed by the blue tit.

London's Big Garden Birdwatch 2008 shows a continued decline in its most common birds.

In 1979 there was an average of 15 starlings which could be seen at one time in a London garden. This year the figure is 3.14.

RSPB London spokesman Tim Webb said: "We are concerned at the continuing fall in the number of starlings and house sparrows.

"These are our most common birds but they're vanishing, mostly due to a lack of food and shelter."

Explore News Shopper