MILLIONS of Britain’s birds are dying each year, with 50 house sparrows dying every hour, a new report has revealed.

The shocking statistics show the UK has lost a million birds every year since 1966 at a rate of 19 birds every 10 minutes.

The State of the UK’s Birds 2012 report, published this week, charts the ups and downs of our bird populations over the last few decades.

Its authors, from the RSPB and seven other habitat organisations, say there are around 166 million nesting birds in the UK compared with 210 million in 1966.

The house sparrow has seen one of the greatest losses of any bird in the UK.

It has slid from 30 million birds in 1966 in the UK to 10 million in 2009.

RSPB scientist, Dr Mark Eaton, who worked on the report, said: “That loss is equivalent to the whole human population of England and Wales.”

The report said the exact reasons behind the declines are not fully known.

But losses of habitats, the rise in some non-native species and a lack of food for some key species have been pointed to as possible factors.

News Shopper: The chaffinch

Cold weather and farming have also been named as possible reasons for the decline.

The report also found the chaffinch has increased at a rate of 150 individuals each day.

Dr Andy Musgrove, of the British Trust of Ornithology, said: “Amongst individual species, whilst there have been some winners, the number of losers is greater and the long-term picture is sobering.

“There is still more to learn though, and we need the continuing support of ever greater numbers of volunteer birdwatchers, on whose efforts all of these numbers are based”.

Founder of Bexley RSPB, Ralph Todd, 62, said: “What’s happening in Bexley very much reflects the national situation for the house sparrow, starlings and other species over the last 30 or 40 years.

“The problem may be that fewer people have front gardens now and more people are laying grass, decking and patios at the rear of their houses.

“Birds like house sparrows and starlings need to feed on small bugs, particularly the youngsters, and there are less of them now as a result. There aren’t the right plants.

“20 or 30 years ago house sparrows, starlings and blackbirds were the most garden birds.

“Now woodpigeons, blue tits and carrion crows are more commonly seen in gardens.

“This might be because traditional nests for sparrows and starlings were in the eves of houses which we don’t really have anymore.”

For advice on helping the bird population see rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds

Read the report at: rspb.org.uk/Images/SUKB_2012_tcm9-328339.pdf