RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch results in North and East Yorkshire
More than 30,000 people across North and East Yorkshire took part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch as it publishes the results of the survey.
The results are out from the world's largest wildlife survey in which people on the Yorkshire Coast took part in.
Back in January the RSPB held its Big Garden Birdwatch which helps them work out trends and if any birds need help.
The charity says a million people took part across the UK with more than 30,000 participants in North and East Yorkshire.
The house sparrow remained at the top of the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings in North Yorkshire as the most commonly seen garden bird. Found in nearly 70% of North Yorkshire gardens, across the country more than 2.6 million house sparrows were sighted throughout the weekend. Meanwhile, blackbirds and blue tits joined house sparrows to form the top three most sighted birds in North Yorkshire as local people enjoyed watching the wildlife found in their gardens.
In East Yorkshire, the house sparrow also remained at the top of the rankings as it was found in over 70% of gardens in the region. Meanwhile, blackbirds and starlings joined the house sparrows to form the top three most sighted birds in East Yorkshire.
Beccy Speight, RSPB CEO said:
"We have been blown away by the enthusiasm with which people have taken part in the Birdwatch this year. Lockdowns have brought few benefits, but the last year has either started or reignited a love of nature for many people, right on their doorsteps.
"This winter has been a bleak ordeal but as the dawn chorus starts to burst into song and the blossom starts to flower from the trees once more, we are emerging from this pandemic a new generation of nature lovers.
"We hope the Birdwatch has kindled a new passion for wildlife for the thousands who took part for the first time this year - we need every voice raised to stand up for nature. The wildlife that gave us so much interest and solace is now just a fraction of what should be there. On the back of this wave of public support, we need the government to take the global leadership,?policy and legislative opportunities open to it this year to reverse the decline and restore nature now."
The charity is also urging members of the public to take care as they return to the countryside near them as nature's busiest season is underway. It says as breeding season begins, birds and other wildlife could be nesting nearby, with over half of England's most threatened breeding birds nesting on or near the ground. To be sure to help the wildlife this spring, follow the Countryside Code when exploring the local area.
The Big Garden Birdwatch, which was held over the last weekend in January, revealed that nationally the house sparrow held on to its number one spot, but 16 out of the top 20 bird species showed declines in average counts compared to last year. Starlings slid down the ranking from 2nd place for the first time since 2010, with numbers down 83% since 1979. Further national declines were recorded for greenfinch and chaffinch, with the lowest average for both types of bird ever recorded during the Big Garden Birdwatch. Only robins, blackbirds, carrion crows and the song thrush saw an increase on 2020 across the UK.
Beccy added:
"One way you can help revive our world is to bring nature to you. Your garden, balcony, and even windowsill are potential havens for wildlife, and in April we're launching a digital platform, Nature on Your Doorstep, to help show you how."
For a full round-up of all the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch results and to see which birds were visiting gardens where you live, visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
Discover more about the RSPB's new Nature on Your Doorstep resources here: www.rspb.org.uk/yourdoorstep