Garden Long-tailed Tits buck the trend

01 Apr 2015 | No. 2015-12

It’s always a delight to have Long-tailed Tits in the garden. These tiny birds can vary in number quite a lot so it’s a relief that British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Garden BirdWatchers have been seeing them in the highest percentages for two years! Will they continue to entertain us, or will garden numbers drop as they start to settle down on eggs in time for Easter?

Long-tailed Tit numbers can suddenly drop after a cold winter, or an unsuccessful breeding year. The numbers of BTO Garden BirdWatch gardens reporting Long-tailed Tits in 2014 was much lower than the five year average, so it is good news that preliminary results show them being reported from over 10% more gardens this year.

At this time of year, Long-tailed Tits start to move out of gardens. They have been carefully constructing their elaborate nests since late February, and may use gardens to find feathers with which to line them (up to 2,600 can be used!), or to take advantage of fats, small seeds and peanuts.

Clare Simm, from the Garden Ecology team, commented, "BTO monitoring surveys have found that in the last few years, the Long-tailed Tit population has started to decline in the wider countryside. However, with our preliminary data from 2015 showing that they are doing better than in 2014, they still seem to be doing well in gardens. If you watch your garden birds for a few minutes each week, you can help us learn whether their good fortunes will continue or not."

Will Long-tailed Tits continue to do well in gardens, or will numbers start to match those seen in the wider countryside? Your help is needed to find out.

To find out more information and for a free BTO Garden BirdWatch information pack, which includes a copy of our quarterly magazine, please contact gbw [at] bto.org, telephone 01842 750050, write to Garden BirdWatch, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU, or visit www.bto.org/gbw.

Notes for Editors

  1. The BTO 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 13,000 people take part in the project. The project is funded by participants’ contributions and is the largest year-round survey of garden birds in the world. For more information see www.bto.org/gbw.
     
  2. Garden BirdWatch results for 2015, including those for Long-tailed Tits, can be found here
     
  3. The BTO is the UK's leading bird research charity. A growing membership and up to 60,000 volunteer birdwatchers contribute to the BTO's surveys, collecting information that underpins conservation action in the UK. The BTO maintains a staff of 100 at its offices in Thetford, Stirling, Bangor (Wales) and Bangor (Northern Ireland), who analyse and publicise the results of surveys and projects. The BTO's work is funded by BTO supporters, government, trusts, industry and conservation organisations.www.bto.org

Contact Details

Clare Simm
(BTO Garden BirdWatch Development Officer)

Office: 01842 750050
(9am to 5.30pm)
Email: clare.simm [at] bto.org

Paul Stancliffe
(BTO Media Manager)

Office: 01842 750050
(9am to 5.30pm)
Mobile: 07585 440910 (anytime)
Email: press [at] bto.org

Images are available for use alongside this News Release.
Please contact images [at] bto.org quoting reference 2015-12

The BTO has an ISDN line available for radio interviews.
Please contact us to book an interview
Office: 01842 750050


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