Bye bye blackbird

The blackbird Turdus merula is at risk of disappearing from London gardens after suffering a “worrying” decline in numbers. The survey shows that although blackbirds are still found in all London boroughs, the average number seen in gardens has fallen from 1.83 three years ago to 1.56 now — a 15 per cent drop. “Something is happening to London’s environment that means birds — such as house sparrows Passer domesticus, starlings Sturnus vulgaris, swifts Apus apus and now blackbirds — can no longer maintain their numbers here,” Tim Webb, a spokesman for RSPB London, said. “Research has shown London is suffering from a lack of insects, caterpillars and edible seed for wildlife. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but those bugs and grasses are fine dining for many of our common birds and help support frogs, bees and bats too.”

Source: Evening Standard, 15 August 2012
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/bye-bye-blackbird--lack-of-insect…