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[AdrianH]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/16721019

The RSPB big garden birdwatch begins

The wildlife charity the RSPB is appealing to the public to take part in its annual Big Garden Birdwatch.

With well over half a million people submitting their results in 2010, this is one of the the world's largest wildlife surveys.

It could reveal, says the RSPB, what effect a year of "confusing weather" has had on our garden birds.

The event will take place on 28 and 29 January.
Participants can register and submit results on the RSPB website.

[tuftedduck]

Yes, TD usually does the count and submits results, and would expect to be doing the same this year.

[roseway]

Yes, this is an annual pleasure for yours truly.

[UncleUB]

I have just counted 4 and 20 blackbirds   


The blackbirds are Sues pride and joy,she cuts apples in half and fixes them with wooden skewers to the top of the hedge for them.They love them,its costing me a fortune 

Luckily there are always bags of seconds at her shop going cheap(excuse the pun) 

[kitz]

heh Im a lover of the blackbird too,
I dont seem to get much of a variety of birds in my garden here and flying-rats (gulls) seem the most predominant, then the magpies which seem to scare everything else away
Blackbirds, bluetits and the occasional thrush + robin is about it (oh and one visit by a parakeet last week )
Whatever happened to sparrows?  There used to be loads of them, but they are something I seldom see these days.

[roseway]

There's no shortage of sparrows round these parts. They seem to have moved out of urban areas though, and nobody is quite sure why.

[scottiesmum]

I wonder if it's anything to do with 'modern gardening'   -   ( I'm only taking into consideration people I know  in the UK who live in urban areas with gardens - it's not a countrywide survey  ) a lot of them have now had their lawns and hedges removed, for the easier maintained  decking, and wood fencing.   These need treating with wood preserves - chemically based a lot of them ?  ( multiply the people I know by thousands     )   This must  surely result in less insects/bugs  .... hence  the clever sparrows have moved to more  rural areas    just a thought 

[roseway]

I think you're very probably right, Kate.   It won't be the only factor, but it'll be a significant one.

[UncleUB]

Sparrows are some what of a rarity here as well.

We get blackbirds,bluetits,magpies,rooks(or crows) and the odd thrush,oh and our pld friend the wood pigeon.(thank god I'm deaf)

[tuftedduck]

Today's count.

Blackbird...............5
House Sparrow.......16
Dunnock................2
Wren....................1
Chaffinch...............7
Robin.....................1
Jackdaw.................5
Carrion Crow...........1
Moorhen.................2
Mallard...................2
Sparrowhawk..........1
Collared Dove..........3
Bullfinch.................1
Blue Tit..................4
Coal Tit..................2
Great Tit................2
Thrush...................1

Not so good this year..

[roseway]

Could I offer you two blackcaps for your bullfinch?