The British are fortunate to have an incredibly diverse wild bird population. However, not many people realise that some species are now considered to be severally at risk. This means that the numbers are so low, that steps need to be taken to ensure that those particular types of British birds don’t die out altogether!
Conservationists work on a red, amber and green rating systems. Red indicates critically low numbers and green shows less serious depletion in species populations.
UK Wild Bird Numbers Have Declined
This is probably no surprise, but lots of the birds you attract to your garden are likely to be cheery little tree or house sparrows. However, official figures show that tree sparrow numbers have declined by 95% compared to survey results in the 1970s! Therefore, they appear on the red list. Corn buntings have fallen by 88% in the same period, so they too are on the red list.
Other British birds at peril include the lapwing, nightingale, willow tit, marsh tit, skylark, various types of warbler, yellow wagtail, tree pipit, hawfinch, starling, turtle dove, song thrush, yellowhammer, redwing and lesser spotted woodpecker.
This List Is Actually Long And Alarming.
Source 1 RSPB1
Where Have All The Wild Birds Gone?
Several factors have been involved in seriously reducing the numbers of wild birds in the UK; making it imperative to play your part in feeding them.
This, of course, includes all the urban building work, that takes away their natural habitats and depletes their natural foraging opportunities. Agricultural policies have also had an impact, putting the emphasis on protecting crops, at the cost of losing British wildlife. This also includes digging up hedgerows for field expansion, further reducing the places wild birds prosper.
How Can You Help Protect British Birds?
Attracting birds to your garden with specialist foods is one important way you can help redress the balance.
By leaving out a good range of specially formulated mixed blend bird seed, it’s a much-needed helping hand. Particularly if you include one of the most attractive and nutritious items around Sunflower seeds. Many of the protected bird types thrive on these.
If you are fortunate enough to have visits from rare indigenous birds, you can help protect them with well-constructed bird feeders too. Scattering wild bird food on paths and patios, or even using bird tables, can leave your precious feathered friends at risk. It’s too easy for predators to grab them as they eat.
Having wild bird seed hanging in trees or on poles gives your visitors a better chance of eating uninterrupted.
It is also a more natural way for them to forage for food.
