'Big Garden Birdwatch' – THIS WEEKEND

The Big Garden Birdwatch 2018 which will take place this weekend between 27-29 January.

The 2017 Results are in and can be viewed by CLICKING HERE

It was a bumper year for Waxwings. There was literally an explosion in the number of Waxwings visiting gardens in 2017. A lack of berries in their native Scandinavia prompted an 'irruption' of these stunning birds, with hundreds of sightings across the UK, even as far west as Wales and Ireland.

Goldfinch, Blackbird and Robin sightings have all increased.

Regrettably, however, lots of sightings were down.

• Blue tits, great tits and coal tits were all down by at least 10 per cent on 2016 figures.
• Although coming in at No 2, Starling sightings have dropped 79% since the first Birdwatch over 30 years ago
• Greenfinch and Chaffinch numbers have also decreased by 59% and 57% respectively.

Top Tips over the winter....

• Regularly feed the birds – this has a positive impact
• Put up a nest box
• Ensure that you thoroughly wash and air-dry birdfeeders, birdtable tops and birdbaths thus preventing Trichomonosis, the name given to a disease caused by the protozoan parasite 'Trichomonas gallinae'.
• It is also a good idea to rotate the positions of feeders in your gardens to prevent the build-up of any contamination in any one area of ground below the feeders.

Image by kind permission of Keith Titchener