Some of island’s favourite garden birds still in decline

It is a trend seen across the British Isles.

Local RSPB Guernsey group membership secretary Ian Le Page has been birdwatching for over 60 years and has witnessed the worrying decline.

‘It’s well known that we have seen a decline not just in garden birds but migratory species like swallows too,’ said Mr Le Page.

‘The Big Birdwatch is a great project because it gets ordinary people involved and highlights the issues bird populations are facing.’

Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. It provides an insight into the experiences of garden birds.

More than half a million people across the UK took part this year and they counted more than nine million birds.

In the Channel Islands there were more than 1,000 volunteers.

The house sparrow was the most commonly seen bird locally and in the UK.

However, the decline is startling even in this most common species. An estimated 22m. house sparrows have been lost from British skies since the survey began in 1966 .

Mr Le Page shared his top tips for encouraging birds into gardens.

‘Try and avoid pesticides and allow a little part of your garden to grow wild.

‘Have some shrubbery near your feeders. Somewhere for the small birds to hide really helps.

‘They don’t like coming out into the open. Remember some birds, like blackbirds and chaffinches, only feed on the ground or tables, so remember to put some seeds and mealworms down for them.

‘It’s also good to have some water available for drinking and feeding.’

Mr Le Page said he regularly sees 15 species in his small garden and he has seen up to 23 different types of bird on a single day.

‘I spend hours just watching them through my kitchen window.

‘They bring colour and joy as they hop around and interact.

‘I find them totally fascinating.’