Which is the rarest?

[rlchew]

House Sparrow, Starling and Dunnock ....

OR ....

Corncrake, Stone Curlew and Marsh Warbler

Answer: undoubtedly the last 3 species but the first 3 species have been added to the latest national Biodiversity Action Plans due to concerns over the decline in their populations.

House Sparrow, Starling and Dunnock were all common garden birds when I was a child and started birdwatching. It is therefore depressing that they have had to be added to the lsit of species in decline but nonetheless encouraging that at least that has been recognised with a need for conservation action.

Let's hope they all recover.

Declining garden birds

Richard

[Dogghound]

Interesting, over recent years i would agree, but by what ive seen this year the first three species seem to have done better than recent years which decent populations in the garden and round and about. Although good to see them being recognised.

[Goosegogs]

When we lived in London, the house had eaves which the sparrows used. My mother's new house doesn't have a place for the birds to live.
Also, I have noticed in general an increase (over 25 years) of magpies. I remember seeing my first magpie on the way to a Woodcraft Folk meeting (can't remember how old I was). Now, they seem to be "commonplace".
Last year was the first time I saw a dunnock - it was a fluffly young bird that followed me around my allotment, standing on the dalek compost bin while I toiled less than 6 feet away from it. Sat down for a break, and it hopped around my chair before wandering off among the handful of brassicas.
I haven't noticed as many starlings around recently.

[paulchandler6]

From my garden records over the last 25+ years have noticed House Sparrow numbers drop drastically and then start to recover in the past few years.
Dunnock has stayed relatively stable.
Starlings have appeared to decrease overall, although you wouldnt think so when a flock of 50+ descend on the garden and strip all the food like a plague of locust. Always had a pair of Starling nest in the eaves for as long as I've lived here.

Paul

[jdurbo]

We have had loads of sparrows, starlings and a few dunnocks all summer and now there seems to be loads of goldfinch!! about 20 in the garden the other day

jen xxx

[demicav]

We get hundreds of Starlings and Sparrows but I've yet to see my first Dunnock.

[Cazzie]

I 'usually' have at least 10 sparrows, 2-3 dunnocks and now the starlings are back (don't know where they've been) and have approx 10 or so of them per day too

[epops]

seems i must be lucky sparrows still nest in the roof and my gardening technics(cant be botherered with me own cause i do it all week at work) seem to work cause i had a dunnocks amongst other spieces nest in my hedge.