Fears about the impact of last December’s severe weather, the coldest in 100 years, were unfounded. The drop in small bird populations witnessed in the RSPB Birdwatch of 2010 during the Big Freeze was rectified by excellent breeding conditions in the following spring. Small birds in recovery notably include goldcrests, long-tailed tits and coal tits.
Another interesting result of the survey were the numerous sightings of waxwings, reflecting both the large numbers migrating from Scandinavia this winter and the “bird-friendly” berry-producing vegetation people are increasingly planting in their gardens. A record 600,000 people took part. The results compared with last year:
- House sparrow – 4.2 birds per garden in 2011, rise from 3.8 in 2010
- Starling – 3.9, up from 3.1
- Blackbird – 3.3, stayed the same
- Blue tit – 3.2, up from 2.6
- Chaffinch – 2.4, up from 2.2
- Wood pigeon – 1.9, stayed the same
- Great tit – 1.6, up from 1.4
- Goldfinch – 1.5, up from 1.3
- Robin – 1.5, stayed the same
- Collared Dove – 1.3, stayed the same at 1.3
