Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Why are we interested in nesting birds in gardens?
As the countryside becomes more and more developed, so the nation's gardens play an increasingly important role in supporting British bird populations, providing food, shelter and nesting sites. It is therefore vital that we keep a close eye on bird populations in rural, suburban and urban areas in the same way that we would birds in woodlands and farmland, particularly as numbers of several garden bird species, such as House Sparrow and Starling, have fallen in the last few decades. Gardens are amongst the most intensively watched habitats in the country. By asking you what species you have breeding in your garden, we can build up a picture of the relative importance of gardens as a breeding habitat. Other BTO Nesting Neighbours Projects, such as Nesting Neighbours, provided more detailed information on individual nesting attempts,something that can be used to understand more about why some species are increasing while others are declining, and to help us find out whether warmer weather and the provision of food can make a difference to the number of chicks that birds are able to raise.
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