Get involved in Bird Monitoring in South and West Wales
Even as naturalists, we can at times take for granted some of our most common wildlife species, not really appreciating their delights until it is too late. As a result it often takes longer to identify declines in wildlife we are most familiar with.
To assist the Wildlife Trust we are asking members to report sightings of three garden bird species: House Sparrow, Song Thrush and Bullfinch. Each was once regarded as common in Wales, but due to changes in habitats, populations have declined dramatically in recent decades. All three bird species have been placed on the Welsh Assembly Governments’ Section 42 List, making them 'Species of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity in Wales’
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Habitat: Close to human habitation, gardens, towns and farms.
Nesting: Usually in holes or under eaves of buildings and other structures.
Diet: Seeds, shoots, buds and berries as well as insects for nestlings.
Decline and Threats: Not fully understood. Thought to be associated with the reduction of winter and summer food sources as well as the availability of suitable nest sites.
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Habitat: Most habitats, especially woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens.
Nesting: Usually in the fork of a tree or bush, but also in a crevice of a wall or building.
Diet: Snails form an important part of the diet. Worms, berries and fruits are also taken.
Decline and Threats: Farmland populations are in greatest decline. Combination of different factors, including reduction of food and nesting sites as a result of changing farming practices.
Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
Habitat: Woodlands, scrub and gardens that provide trees and dense bushy undergrowth.
Nesting: Often high up in tree or bush in woodland hedgerow and scrub habitats.
Diet: Mainly seeds, berries, buds and shoots, young fed on invertebrates and seeds.
Decline and Threats: Main threat though to be loss of nesting habitats such as hedges and farmland trees which also has an affect on food availability.
To help the Wildlife Trust monitor these three threatened bird species, along with other wildlife in our area, please email us on info@welshwildlife.org with details of the species and how many. Please include the recorder's name, date recorded and grid reference or postcode, which will allow us to to produce a map of findings that will be regularly updated on the website, and presented in the winter issue of the Newsletter.
Thank you for your help.
Bird Survey Results
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