Revealed: winners and losers in the Big Garden Birdwatch

In this day and age, garden birds are up against habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, disease, manicured gardens and changes to agricultural practices. Some birds adapt quickly to shifting circumstances, with an opportunistic nature which allows them to thrive and survive, while others struggle to fill a new niche in a changing world.

The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch – now entering its 39th year – is a citizen science survey that relies on your help to monitor our garden bird populations. The results enable us to identify rises and declines in garden birds from one year to the next, and the accumulation of data year-on-year allows for observation of long-term trends in species' populations.

Ahead of this year's Big Garden Birdwatch, we look at the garden bird winners and losers over the last ten years here in the East.

WINNERS

Robin

Voted Britain's favourite bird back in 2015, the robin jumped two positions last year, from 10 to 8, in the Big Garden Birdwatch charts, following a 13% population increase in the region. This jump is mirrored in the long-term success of the robin, with the average numbers seen in our garden rising by 35% over the past ten years. Quite a remarkable increase following a considerable drop in numbers between 2008-2014.

Scientists have linked this recent rise in robin numbers to the succession of mild winters between 2015-2017, with population numbers increasing more robins are spilling into gardens in search of food.

Woodpigeon

Woodpigeons have successfully made the most of our feeders and tables over the last ten years, increasing by an impressive 56% across the East, and a whopping 1060% across the UK over 30 years! When times are tough in the wider countryside, woodpigeons will happily munch on whatever seeds are going in our gardens.

Blackbird

These familiar garden visitors have soared by 38% in the region since 2007, creeping into the top three in last year's rankings.

Blackbirds are now the region's (and the UK's) most widespread bird, having been seen in 96% of our gardens. Gardeners can help this success to continue by avoiding the use of garden chemicals, and by planting shrubs that provide blackbirds with caterpillars, berries, or both.

Long-tailed tit

Unlike its relatives, and against the odds, the number of gardens in which this tiny bird was seen still increased in 2017 by 8%. It's thought that its long-term increase in sightings of 128% over ten years is down to milder winters. Warmer temperatures make it easier to find food, like insects, which in colder winters would have been harder to come by because of frosts and snow.

Wren

Another teeny bird that's excelled in the warmer climes of recent years. Given their small frame, wrens do better in milder winters, and are now frequent garden visitors. They held on to their place in the top 20 with a 6% increase on 2016, and a 100% increase since 2007.

Common gull

These avian opportunists have colonised our gardens here in the East. What may look like waste to us looks like a tasty meal to these gulls, and our roofs are perfect to nest on. Common gulls just sneaked in to the top 20 nationally, but regionally they made it to number 15 in the rankings following a 102% increase in garden sightings from 2007 to 2017.

LOSERS

Blue tit

Blue tits dropped two places in the 2017 Big Garden Birdwatch charts after a 16% downturn in sightings. Changes in weather during breeding seasons can have a big impact on these small birds.

2016's prolonged wet spell meant there were fewer caterpillars about for feeding their young. It's likely that this led to fewer younger birds surviving than usual, meaning there were fewer seen in gardens.

However, long-term trends are slightly less worrying, with a small 2% decrease in the region since 2007.

Great tit

A bird that has followed a similar pattern to its relative the blue tit. Poor weather during the 2016 breeding season also impacted on the great tit's success, and between 2016 and 2017, sightings of these beautiful birds decreased by 14%.

House sparrow

Although house sparrows took the number one spot in the region in last year's Big Garden Birdwatch, numbers are actually declining at a worrying rate nationally. Since 1979, the house sparrow population has decreased by 57%. Here in the East, the decline has not been so severe with a decrease of 7% since 2007.

Possible reasons for this decline include a reduction in the availability of their preferred foods, increased levels of pollution, loss of suitable nesting sites, increased prevalence of disease, and increased levels of predation. However, the exact causes of these rapid declines remain unclear.

Since identifying the decline, the RSPB and others have undertaken scientific research to learn more about struggles this species faces in urban and suburban centres and hopefully turn their fortunes around.

Starling

Starlings returned to the top three in 2017, just below the house sparrow in second place. However, again, despite being the second most seen bird in our gardens, the drop in starlings over the last 30 years is somewhat more depressing.

A 79% reduction in numbers nationally since 1979, and a 22% decline in the region since 2007, are largely undetermined. It is known though, that starlings are heavily dependent on soil invertebrates like earthworms and leatherjackets, and it is possible this food supply has either declined or perhaps become less available during dry summers.

This reduction in invertebrates may be down to land-use changes and modern agricultural practices which can damage soils and their associated biodiversity.

Greenfinch

Greenfinches have declined by two-thirds since 2007, and by 59% nationally since 1979. Hit hard by trichomonosis disease since the 1990s, it's a long road to recovery.

We can help to prevent further outbreaks by giving bird feeders, tables and baths a regular clean.

Chaffinch

Another finch that's not faring so well. Numbers of this pretty finch have gone down by 36% since 2007, and there were 24% less sightings in people's gardens from 2016 to 2017. The chaffinch population has also been hit by finch trichomonosis outbreaks (not quite to the same level as the greenfinch), but cold snaps may also have contributed to its decline.

Although still a fairly common garden bird, it's one we'll be keeping our eye on.

Big Garden Birdwatch is happening over January 27, 28 and 29. To sign up for free, visit rspb.org.uk/birdwatch and you will receive an RSPB shop voucher, a bird identification chart, and advice on attracting more wildlife to your garden.