watching the garden birdwatch update 2013
TRANSCRIPT
“Watching the Garden Bird Watch!”
“Watching the Garden Bird Watch!”
A look at how winter bird populations in gardens are changing
By Peter Orchard
What is the Big “GBW”?What is the Big “GBW”?• 4th weekend in January since
1979• Count for an hour in
garden/park• 30k in 1979, 500k in 2009,
rising!• Excellent PR and media
interest• Raises awareness of key
issues• Recruits members,
encourages donations• Is it science? It has its uses!
• 4th weekend in January since 1979
• Count for an hour in garden/park
• 30k in 1979, 500k in 2009, rising!
• Excellent PR and media interest
• Raises awareness of key issues
• Recruits members, encourages donations
• Is it science? It has its uses!
What factors may influence the
Garden Birdwatch statistics?
What factors may influence the
Garden Birdwatch statistics?• Gardens have changed• Much smaller now• More ‘urban’ areas• Gardening has changed
– Flowers rather than vegetables– Use of pesticides and controls– Patios, decking, play equipment– Influence of TV ‘make overs’
• Gardens have changed• Much smaller now• More ‘urban’ areas• Gardening has changed
– Flowers rather than vegetables– Use of pesticides and controls– Patios, decking, play equipment– Influence of TV ‘make overs’
What factors may influence the
Garden Birdwatch statistics?
What factors may influence the
Garden Birdwatch statistics?• Bird Feeding has changed• 1979 Peanuts and scraps• Advice has changed• TV has had a huge influence• Feeding stations especially in
small gardens• Feeding the birds is now big
business!
• Bird Feeding has changed• 1979 Peanuts and scraps• Advice has changed• TV has had a huge influence• Feeding stations especially in
small gardens• Feeding the birds is now big
business!
What factors may influence the
Garden Birdwatch statistics?
What factors may influence the
Garden Birdwatch statistics?
What factors may influence the
Garden Birdwatch statistics?
What factors may influence the
Garden Birdwatch statistics?• Bird populations have
changed• Changes in farming & land
management• Continuing erosion of nest
sites• Increased air, noise and
light pollution• Climate is changing
• Bird populations have changed
• Changes in farming & land management
• Continuing erosion of nest sites
• Increased air, noise and light pollution
• Climate is changing
What factors influence the numbers of birds using gardens?
What factors influence the numbers of birds using gardens?• Amount of natural food available in the
countryside (time of year)• Access to natural food available in the
countryside (weather)• Amount/variety of food provided in a
garden (artificial and natural)• The size and location of the garden in
respect the larger local habitat (macro-habitat)
• The general population level of the species (influenced by seasonal migration and weather)
• Amount of natural food available in the countryside (time of year)
• Access to natural food available in the countryside (weather)
• Amount/variety of food provided in a garden (artificial and natural)
• The size and location of the garden in respect the larger local habitat (macro-habitat)
• The general population level of the species (influenced by seasonal migration and weather)
What are the results of the“Big Garden Birdwatch”?
What are the results of the“Big Garden Birdwatch”?
• Shows overall populations change year on year due to weather
• Shows changes in how birds use gardens in winter
• Shows population trends of species over a long period
• Shows bird numbers visiting gardens declining
• Shows overall populations change year on year due to weather
• Shows changes in how birds use gardens in winter
• Shows population trends of species over a long period
• Shows bird numbers visiting gardens declining
Number of birds visiting gardens …
Number of birds visiting gardens …
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
How did the top 10 change in 30 years of the Garden Bird Watch?How did the top 10 change in 30 years of the Garden Bird Watch?
1979 1989 1999 2009
Starling 1 1 1 2
House Sparrow 2 2 2 1
Blackbird 3 4 4 3
Chaffinch 4 5 5 5
Blue Tit 5 3 3 4
Robin 6 6 9 9
Greenfinch 7 7 6
Great Tit 8 8 7 7
Dunnock 9 9
Song Thrush 10
Collared Dove 10 8 8
Wood Pigeon 10 6
Long Tailed Tit 10
How did the top 10 change in 30 years of the Garden Bird Watch?How did the top 10 change in 30 years of the Garden Bird Watch?
1979 1989 1999 2009
Starling 15.0 7.9 6.0 3.2
House Sparrow 10.0 6.5 5.0 3.7
Blackbird 4.0 2.1 2.5 2.8
Chaffinch 3.0 1.5 2.5 2.0
Blue Tit 2.4 2.6 2.9 2.4
Robin 2.0 1.1 1.3 1.4
Greenfinch 1.0 1.1 1.8
Great Tit .5 1.0 1.4 1.4
Dunnock .8 .7
Song Thrush .6
Collared Dove .7 1.4 1.4
Wood Pigeon 1.0 1.9
Long Tailed Tit 1.3
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.002.004.006.008.00
10.0012.0014.0016.0018.00
AveragePercentage
House SparrowPosition: 1Average: 4.35Percentage: 14.17
Less gardens have them but those that do have a lot!
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.00
4.00
8.00
12.00
16.00
20.00
AveragePercentage
Starling
Position: 2Average: 4.01Percentage: 13.06
Millions over winter here but less use gardens – less scraps on the lawn?
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
12.00
AveragePercentage
Blue Tit
Position: 3Average: 2.89Percentage: 9.40
Pretty steady numbers, those gardens near woodland will have the most.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
12.00
14.00
AveragePercentage
Blackbird
Position: 4Average: 2.75Percentage: 8.94
Numbers undoubtedly boosted by winter migrants in cold weather
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.001.002.003.004.005.006.007.008.009.00
AveragePercentage
Chaffinch
Position: 5Average: 2.20Percentage: 7.17
Numbers probably affected by winter weather and access to natural food.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.001.002.003.004.005.006.007.008.00
AveragePercentage
Wood Pigeon
Position: 6Average: 1.67Percentage: 5.44
Undoubtedly becoming more at home in gardens.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
AveragePercentage
Collared Dove
Position: 7Average: 1.53Percentage: 4.96
After many years increasing in numbers now seem to be in decline?
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
AveragePercentage
Great Tit
Position: 8Average: 1.49Percentage: 4.86
Population seems stable and garden use remains consistent.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.001.002.003.004.005.006.007.008.00
AveragePercentage
Greenfinch
Position: 9Average: 1.45Percentage: 4.73
Tragic decline attributed to the disease trichomonosis which affects ability to feed.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
AveragePercentage
Robin
Position: 10Average: 1.34Percentage: 4.37
Average of more than one per garden. Could never happen in ours!
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
AveragePercentage
Goldfinch
Position: 11Average: 1.19Percentage: 3.87
Have become very much at home on garden seed feeders.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.000.501.001.502.002.503.003.504.004.50
AveragePercentage
Dunnock
Position: 12Average: 1.07Percentage: 3.48
Possibly under recorded and mistaken for house sparrows?
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
AveragePercentage
Long-tailed titPosition: 13Average: 1.05Percentage: 3.41
Very erratic and undoubtedly more likely to visit in cold weather.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.000.501.001.502.002.503.003.504.00
AveragePercentage
Magpie
Position: 14Average: 1.05Percentage: 3.41
Not increasing dramatically as some would have you believe!
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
AveragePercentage
Coal Tit
Position: 15Average: 0.68Percentage: 2.22
Will happily travel in search of food, a bird of coniferous woods rather than gardens
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
AveragePercentage
Jackdaw
Position: 16Average: 0.67Percentage: 2.17
A ground feeder less inclined to come in to gardens unless natural food scarce
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
AveragePercentage
Carrion Crow
Position: 17Average: 0.60Percentage: 1.96
If you have them you have them! Not every gardens suits a crow.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.000.200.400.600.801.001.201.401.60
AveragePercentage
Wren
Position: 18Average: 0.35Percentage: 1.13
Do not seem to travel in search of food and so are more vulnerable in cold weather.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
AveragePercentage
Song Thrush
Position: 19Average: 0.29Percentage: 0.95
Population levels have fallen dramatically and so garden numbers have fallen too.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
AveragePercentage
Great Spotted WoodpeckerPosition: 20Average: 0.21Percentage: 0.68
The Dutch elm disease population boom seems to be over with numbers falling.
Summing up …Summing up …• No two winters are the same and no
two winters are the same in your garden
• No two gardens are the same, the area surrounding you will have a big effect
• The numbers of birds using gardens in winter is falling but so are population levels
• Gardens are vitally important to some species, less so to others
• Despite some dramatic losses there are also some winners (that seem to be less popular)
• No two winters are the same and no two winters are the same in your garden
• No two gardens are the same, the area surrounding you will have a big effect
• The numbers of birds using gardens in winter is falling but so are population levels
• Gardens are vitally important to some species, less so to others
• Despite some dramatic losses there are also some winners (that seem to be less popular)