Press Releases - March/April 2008
Item 4

No. 2008/03/09
March 2008

Help chart Scandinavian invasion.

A small yellow and black bird is invading gardens across the UK. The Siskin has crossed the North Sea in large numbers this winter in search of food and is finding it at feeding stations around the country. The British Trust for Ornithology, who monitor the movements of Britain’s birds, would like to know the true extent of this invasion.

If you have seen a Siskin in your garden, or indeed several Siskins, the BTO wants to know. The Siskin one of the smallest members of the finch family, normally feeds on pinecone seeds in the Scandinavian forests. This winter the pine trees have produced a very poor crop, prompting these birds to cross the North Sea and invade Britain’s gardens.

Results from the BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch survey show that late March and early April is the best time to see Siskins in gardens. The Trust is already receiving reports from people that are seeing Siskins in their gardens, and would like to know how widespread this year’s invasion is. Paul Stancliffe, of the Garden BirdWatch Team, said, “We know that there are a lot of Siskins around. What we don’t know is just how many birds are involved and how far across the country they have spread. We could be talking about one the largest invasions of this bird for many years.”

The male Siskin is unmistakeable with its bright yellow plumage, streaked with black and sporting a black cap and bib. Females are somewhat duller and lack the black cap and bib. Both sexes have two bright yellow wing-bars edged with black. For a free identification leaflet, or to report Siskins in your garden, contact the GBW team on 01842 750050, or write to BTO, GBW, Room 09, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU.

The BTO monitors birds in gardens through the BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch survey. To receive a free information pack about the survey, please send your name and address details to BTO, GBW, Room 09, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU, email or telephone 01842-750050.

Please see over for Notes for Editors

Notes for Editors

1. The BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch is the only nationwide survey of garden birds to run weekly throughout the year, providing important information on how birds use gardens, and how this use changes over time. Currently, some 16,500 people take part in the project. The BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch is funded by participants’ contributions and supported by CJ WildBird Foods Ltd and is the largest year round survey of garden birds anywhere in the world. For more information see www.bto.org/gbw

2. CJ WildBird Foods is Europe’s leading supplier of bird food and bird feeding products. CJ WildBird Foods 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. The company has also been supporting research into the changing fortunes of garden bird populations, most notably through the BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch.

4. Images of Siskins are freely available for use in association with this press release. Please contact to request an electronic version. Please quote reference number 2008/03/09

5. Bird Information. For lots of facts and figures about garden birds go to www.bto.org/birdfacts

6. The BTO has an ISDN line available for radio interviews.

For further information please contact:

Paul Stancliffe on 01842 750050 or e-mail: (during office hours)
or mobile 07845 900559 (anytime)

Mike Toms on 01842 750050 or e-mail: (during office hours)