Where Have All the Sparrows Gone? How to Help the UK’s Struggling Garden Birds

 


Where Have All the Sparrows Gone? How to Help the UK’s Struggling Garden Birds

Pigeons are winning the air war. But it’s not too late to support the underbirds.

🕊️ The Changing Chorus

Not long ago, the cheerful chirping of sparrows was part of every morning.
Now? You’re more likely to hear the cooing of a pigeon, or the high-speed squabble of starlings fighting over chips.

The House Sparrow, once one of Britain’s most common birds, has seen a sharp population decline — dropping by nearly 70% since the 1970s.
Meanwhile, urban-tough species like pigeons, magpies, and gulls are thriving.

But it’s not just sparrows — species like greenfinches, song thrushes, and linnets are also struggling.

🌍 Why Is This Happening?

Some key reasons:

  • 🏗️ Loss of nesting sites due to modern building designs

  • 🌾 Agricultural intensification reducing insect numbers

  • 🚫 Pesticides wiping out food sources

  • 🧼 Overly tidy gardens with little shelter or seed

  • 🪟 Predation and window strikes

🌿 What Can You Do to Help?

Good news: your garden, balcony, or windowsill can become a bird sanctuary.

🏠 1. Add Nesting Spaces

  • Put up nest boxes — ideally with different hole sizes for different species

  • Leave gaps in fences or under eaves for natural nesting

  • Don’t evict birds nesting in sheds or ivy (they’re temporary tenants)

🌻 2. Grow Bird-Friendly Plants

  • Seed producers: sunflowers, teasels, grasses

  • Berry bearers: hawthorn, rowan, dog rose

  • Shelter plants: dense shrubs, hedgerows

🐛 3. Feed Them Right

  • Use feeders with mixed seed — sparrows and finches love millet

  • Suet cakes for robins and tits

  • Leave mealworms or raisins out for blackbirds

  • Fresh water is vital, especially in winter or heatwaves

Bonus Tip: Place feeders away from cover to reduce ambushes from cats

🧽 4. Keep It Wild(ish)

  • Let part of your garden go a bit scruffy

  • Leave leaf piles, dead wood and long grass — great for insects and cover

  • Avoid pesticides and weedkillers — what kills bugs starves birds

🧠 Final Thought

Every little garden action adds up to a big win for biodiversity.

Let’s make our green spaces louder — with tweets, chirps, and the flutter of wings.

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