Decline in chaffinches

[Kayleigh]

This time last year we had a large population of chaffinches and green finches in the garden. Also there were lots in the fields.
This year we have none in the garden and I have only seen one or two in the fields around my home. Has anyone else noticed this. Or have they all gone to your gardens in stead.

[demicav]

We have one female coming regularly at the moment, no others. Maybe that will change when Spring comes.

[Goosegogs]

Only spotted one chaffinch in the garden today. Haven't seen greenfinches in garden but they do feast at the birdfeeder on the plot less than half a kilometre away.

[stephen p]

We have had more than ever this year, especially at the moment (sorry)

[Elizabeth B]

Last week our maximum number of chaffinches was 10, goldfinches 12 and greenfinches 25. So far this week the numbers have been 8, 12 and 9.

I've been taking part in the BTO's Garden BirdWatch scheme for over twelve years now, so my weeks run from Sunday to Saturday. On their website I can look back at all my records, which is brilliant - otherwise I would have to go through a stack (over 600) of A4 sheets to compare different years or weeks.

[paulchandler6]

I think I've got them all. Had over 20 Chaffinch in the garden this morning. Mainly males but also several females.
My Greenfinch numbers are down on previous years though with only 2 regularly visiting.

Paul

[Oystercatcher]

Yup, we've gone from having 10 or so greenfinches last week to none so far this week. And I haven't seen a chaffinch for about 3 or 4 weeks now.

Goldfinch numbers are on the up though - I had a flock of about 25 on the feeders today.

[Paul mabbott]

I have to say that people are worrying about 'declines' on very little evidence. Having read the thread title, I thought that there could be a suggestion that chaffinches are in serious decline - the sort of thing that you might base on 5-10 years of observations - but you're talking about a few weeks changes in observed numbers - meaningless.

I do the Garden Bird Survey of the BTO (my sole concession to birding!) and I could say that after a poor summer we had an increasing number of species in October but that these declined in November.... That would just replicate the figures, not explain them.

Why the low figures (until this week, incidentally)? The birds had found somewhere better to feed (maybe in the woods, maybe at neighbours' feeders), maybe I wasn't looking at the right times, maybe they had been eaten by the cats or squirrels

My point, really, is that we should all be keeping detailed records (as I'm sure most of you are) and passing these on to BTO or your local Recorder so that any real and serious declines can be noted and analysed rationally ...

[mrs fish]

I am seeing more than ever chaffinches this year in the garden, white flashes everywhere

I am also pleased to see the return of greenfinches after an almost complete disappearance for the last two years

[epops]

Originally Posted by stephen p

We have had more than ever this year, especially at the moment (sorry)

ditto

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Nationally Chaffinch numbers are stable, if not increasing slightly So they are definatly not in decline.

The reason you are not seeing as many this week or month could be a few factors. Have they found some different source of food?

I've only recently had Chaffinch in the garden after starting to feed sunflower hearts and have a number visiting now

[twylite]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

I am seeing more than ever chaffinches this year in the garden, white flashes everywhere

I am also pleased to see the return of greenfinches after an almost complete disappearance for the last two years

we have seen more in suffolk!,and a nice group of goldfinches along a river path . this could be to do with the farmers leaving three meters of grassland along the side of some of our riverpaths and hedgerows allowing more seeds to grow untouched

[fulhamphil]

Hi Up to a few weeks ago i had loads of greenfinches, but now i'm only getting the odd one or two as for chaffinches i've seen them in the trees around the garden but not actually in the garden! However i'm now getting more goldfinch and regular visits from a robin and dunnocks which i never used to get!

[ron1863]

We have lots of Chaffinches in our area but a severe lack of Goldfinches and Bullfinches, have only seen the odd one while out walking.

[Dae]

We've only been living in this house for a while now, but so far we've had several chaffinches. And as you drive down the lane to and from our place you'll see flocks of them. So we've plenty here in Wales mixing in with the Bramblings. Also in the area are scores of goldfinches, redpolls, tits of all types, bullfinches, and of course the house sparrows. I simply wish the goldfinches, bullfinches and the greenfinches would visit the feeders!

[wyevilla]

Lots of chaffinches here - bothon the feeders and high up in the sycamore where the greenfinches hang out.

[smartie]

We've more chaffinches and fewer greenfinches than at this time last year, but the numbers fluctuate significantly depending on the weather and the number of squirrels in the garden and how noisy the builders are next door

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

I have to say that people are worrying about 'declines' on very little evidence. Having read the thread title, I thought that there could be a suggestion that chaffinches are in serious decline - the sort of thing that you might base on 5-10 years of observations - but you're talking about a few weeks changes in observed numbers - meaningless.

I do the Garden Bird Survey of the BTO (my sole concession to birding!) and I could say that after a poor summer we had an increasing number of species in October but that these declined in November.... That would just replicate the figures, not explain them.

Why the low figures (until this week, incidentally)? The birds had found somewhere better to feed (maybe in the woods, maybe at neighbours' feeders), maybe I wasn't looking at the right times, maybe they had been eaten by the cats or squirrels

My point, really, is that we should all be keeping detailed records (as I'm sure most of you are) and passing these on to BTO or your local Recorder so that any real and serious declines can be noted and analysed rationally ...

I have taken part in RSPB garden bird wathch for the last 3-4 years. The numbers of finches in my garden over that time have gone from around 15- 20 birds to none..... Don't you think that is a bit odd...
I wanted to know if anyone else has noticed anything similar in their gardens. I am not talking of a few weeks but a year. I thought if there is a decline then others on this site would have noticed. As it is it seems all is OK elsewhere. I think the decline in my garden co insides with my neighbour moving house as he and me seem to be the only ones in the street who feed the birds. Since he has gone. Its only me now.

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I have taken part in RSPB garden bird wathch for the last 3-4 years. The numbers of finches in my garden over that time have gone from around 15- 20 birds to none..... Don't you think that is a bit odd...
I wanted to know if anyone else has noticed anything similar in their gardens. I am not talking of a few weeks but a year. I thought if there is a decline then others on this site would have noticed. As it is it seems all is OK elsewhere. I think the decline in my garden co insides with my neighbour moving house as he and me seem to be the only ones in the street who feed the birds. Since he has gone. Its only me now.

Thats sounds very probable to me. If you are a distance from woods or other habitat the birds may not come all the way to feed if there is only one place to dine