The recent results from the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch contained some horrifying indications regarding the decline of birds across the UK. The falling number of starlings hit the headlines as their numbers plummeted to their lowest ever recorded, but many other species have also suffered notable decreases.
Almost 600,000 people took part in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey, counting more than nine million birds.
The Big Garden Birdwatch is a large-scale citizen science survey that started in 1979, providing an annual snapshot of the status of garden birds in the UK. Since 1979, public participants have spent approximately 12.6 million hours recording numbers at chosen locations, emphasising the dedication that the public has to the status of garden birds in the UK.
Yorkshire’s garden song grows fainter
In Yorkshire, around 43,000 people took part in counting and recording the much-loved garden birds. The house sparrow was in the top three birds across North, South, East and West Yorkshire, with woodpigeons and blackbirds appearing in the greatest numbers as well. North Yorkshire saw blue tits in the top three birds counted, however even they were down 17.3% in the mean count change from 2024 to 2025.
Other notable declines from 2024 and 2025 included the sparrowhawk, down 33.6% in the mean count and the kestrel, down 34.3%. In North Yorkshire, the number of starlings was down 3.9% in the mean count, compared with a decrease of 3.4% in West Yorkshire, a decrease of 2.4% in South Yorkshire, with an increase in the mean count in East Yorkshire of 2.7%.
The dropping of placement, from third to fourth for starlings nationwide, has caused concern among conservationists, as starlings are a red-listed species, having this in common with house sparrows, which held onto top spot again.
The RSPB’s chief executive, Beccy Speight said:
“Starlings are one of our most charismatic garden birds, but this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch results is a reason for concern. With one in six species at risk of extinction from Great Britain, we’ve done more damage to our natural world than we realise. However, we can all do our bit to support these threatened birds by taking small actions that can not only benefit Starlings, but a wealth of other garden wildlife.”
Spectacle in the skies, silence on the ground
Starlings can often be found in huge numbers as they gather and form in spectacular murmurations around roosting spots, especially during winter. This can create the impression that their numbers are healthy. Ripon, in North Yorkshire, is well known for catching a glimpse of these fantastic and mesmerising aerial displays
Despite these murmurations sometimes involving hundreds of thousands of individuals, starlings remain red listed in the UK and are considered a high conservation concern due to their overall declining numbers. The UK breeding population of starlings declined by 82% between 1970 and 2022.
Hope in our hands: simple steps to save our vanishing birds
The RSPB suggest several strategies to help boost garden bird numbers: from water features in the garden, to nestboxes, to increasing insect numbers by avoiding pesticides and keeping your garden healthy – also by keeping feeders and bird baths clean, so that birds do not catch diseases.
Beccy Speight, the RSPB chief executive commented:
“To halt nature’s decline and turn around the fortunes of our native species, we need to help them return to healthy levels, so they become a feature of everyday life once more. Our countryside, our farms and our towns all need support to encourage nature, and while our homes and gardens often provide the perfect place for individual people to help, we also urgently need governments and businesses to join us in the wider fight to restore our natural world.”
It is worth noting that even in the North Yorkshire figures from the Big Garden Birdwatch, there were indications that some species have been recorded and sighted more, suggesting that numbers are becoming healthier. There was a significant increase in the mean count percentage change of black headed gulls, as well as a 24.5% increase in bullfinches. Jays and blackbirds also saw an increase of 85.8% and an 11.4% change in the mean count from 2024 to 2025.
Beyond the numbers: even the ‘winners’ are still at risk
It is vital to research beyond the headline figures though, as these can be accidentally misleading. The numbers of house sparrows are a good example – although they have taken the number one spot, their breeding numbers have also drastically declined since records began over the last 50 years. They remain on the red list, even though there have been increases in some areas over the last decade.
As we move into the summer, it may be worth thinking more about how we look after our garden birds – whether this is through letting the garden grass grow wilder, taking part in the annual ‘No Mow May’ campaign, or by ensuring clean water and food is available for them.
Otherwise, our gardens may fall silent to the sound of a range of bird song and the dawn chorus might well eventually disappear.
