80pc of Britain s most popular birds now in decline, RSPB warns after biggest ever birdwatch
In 2020, half of the top 20 breeds were facing decline - this year, 16 of them were
Bird feeders had fewer species at them than usual this year
Credit: Getty
Eighty per cent of Britain s most popular birds are facing decline, the RSPB has warned after its biggest-ever Big Garden Birdwatch.
The world s largest wildlife survey, now in its 42nd year, found that 16 out of the 20 most spotted garden birds faced a decline on the previous year. More species face decline than in 2020, when half the birds in the top 20 saw dwindling numbers.
Nearly 80 per cent of Britain s most popular songbirds are in decline, the RSPB has warned after its biggest-ever Big Garden Birdwatch.
The world s biggest wildlife survey found that 16 out of the 20 most spotted garden birds faced a decline in numbers on the previous year.
More species currently face decline than in 2020, when half the birds in the top 20 saw falling numbers, the conservation charity announced.
Over a million wildlife enthusiasts counted 17 million birds in their garden in one hour on the last weekend in January - double the number of people who took part in the charity s enormous birdwatch last year.
While Councilman Martin Harper ultimately voted in favor of keeping the mandate on the books, he also questioned the effectiveness of the ordinance. If people don’t know by now, if grown-up people don’t know by now to wear a mask to protect themselves and protect others, I don’t see how we can make them do that, Harper said. People are still getting it and they’re walking around without masks.
Vice Mayor Kelli Marks also said she supported the ordinance and that face coverings are a way of life right now.
Jeff Allebach speaking to the council before he was appointed later that night to the District 2 seat likened the mandate to speed limits, saying that even though people still speed, having the limits gives law enforcement officers a tool to try and slow motorists down.