Press Releases - September/October 2007
Item 4

No. 2007/09/70
September 2007

EXPERTS PREDICT BUSY BIRD TABLES

Although it has been a bumper autumn for Britain’s fruit growers, the seed crops produced by many trees have been patchy at best. Experts predict that this will have a knock-on effect on bird populations, with many likely to turn to garden feeding stations in greater numbers this winter.

Evidence collated by experts at the British Trust for Ornithology suggests that the seed crops of many trees have been very poor this year. The beechmast crop, in particular, has been very poor in many counties and in some areas it seems to have failed altogether. Similarly, a paucity of acorns has been noted widely and we are already seeing the knock-on effects of this, with large numbers of Jays (a brightly coloured member of the crow family) on the move. Equally important has been the lack of conifer seed, an important winter food for Siskins and Crossbills.

David Glue, BTO Research Ecologist, commented, “Most tree species are unable to produce large crops of seed year after year. Indeed, there are good ecological reasons why they should follow a sizeable crop with a far smaller one. After the large crops of last autumn, it should come as no surprise to see such small crops this year. This means that there will be very little natural food around for many seed-eating birds and we will see these turn to bird tables in much greater numbers.”

Mike Toms, BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch Organiser added, “BTO research* has highlighted how birds like Siskin, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch are significantly more likely to use gardens when natural seed crops are low. This winter should see all of these species using gardens to a far greater extent than they did last year. Now is very much the time to be stocking up on suitable seed-mixes in readiness for what should prove to be a busy winter of garden bird feeding. ”

A free leaflet, providing information on how to attract and feed birds, is available from GBW Feeding Leaflet, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU or by calling 01842-750050.

* see notes for editors

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Notes for Editors

1. Seed crops. The sizes of tree seed crops are measured by a number of researchers across the country. This work, together with studies elsewhere in the world, shows that many tree species produce a particularly large seed crop once every four or five years, typically followed by a ‘rest’ year. While autumn 2006 saw a bumper crop of beechmast, autumn 2007 appears to be a rest year.
2. BTO research has highlighted the interactions between availability of natural seed crops and the use of garden feeding stations. The two papers of most relevance are: Chamberlain, D.E., Gosler, A.G. & Glue, D.E. (2007) Effects of the winter beechmast crop on bird occurrence in gardens. Bird Study, 54, 120-126 and Mackenzie, A.J., Petty, S.J., Toms, M.P. & Furness, R.W. (2007) Importance of Sitka Spruce Picea sitchensis seed and garden bird-feeders for Siskins Carduelis spinus and Coal Tits Periparus ater. Bird Study, 54, 236-247.
3. The BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch is the only nationwide survey of garden birds to run weekly throughout the year. It provides important information on how birds use gardens and how this use changes over time. Currently, some 16,000 people take part in the project. The scheme is funded by participants’ contributions and supported by CJ WildBird Foods Ltd. For more information see www.bto.org/gbw
4. CJ WildBird Foods Ltd is Europe’s leading supplier of bird food and bird feeding products. The company has been responsible for a number of significant developments within the bird food and feeding industry, including the introduction of black sunflower seeds to the UK as a major new bird food and the development of specialist seed mixes for use in tubular feeders. CJ WildBird Foods Ltd has also been supporting research into the changing fortunes of garden bird populations, most notably through its association with the BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch.
5. Colour photographs of Siskins, Coal Tits, Jays, Nuthatches and Great Spotted Woodpeckers are freely available for use in association with this press release. Please contact to request an electronic version, quoting reference 2007/09/70
6. The BTO has an ISDN line available for radio interviews.

For further information, please contact:

David Glue - BTO Research Ecologist
Office: 01442-822341

Mike Toms - BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch Organiser
Office: 01842-750050
Email:

Paul Stancliffe - BTO Promotions Officer
Office: 01842-750050
Mobile: 07845-900559
Email:

Images - for image requests (quoting reference 2007/09/70)
Office: 01842-750050
Email: