Words by Smiley Team
A new campaign is encouraging the public to spot three types of birds, and plot them onto a map, as well as learning about the three most at risk bird species in their area.
The what3birds? project, launched by the charity Songbird Survival, aims to halt the alarming decline in songbirds and small birds in our towns, cities, gardens, parks and countryside.
The number of UK songbirds - including species like greenfinches, starlings and cuckoos - has halved in the past 50 years, and in some areas the decline is at 90 per cent.
Susan Morgan, CEO of Songbird Survival said: “Our what3birds? campaign is focussed on education, but its ultimate goal is to keep a rich and diverse dawn chorus alive. Few people realise that UK songbirds have fallen 50% in just two generations, 50 years.
“Yet the public can help stem this tide of extinction by finding out more, taking simple steps to support local songbirds, and putting pressure on policy makers to make songbird survival a priority.”
Members of the public can use an online map created by the charity to plot the birds they have spotted and learn about the most at-risk species in their locations.
Georgina Bradley, manager at SongBird Survival, regularly spots song thrushes, green woodpeckers and cuckoos in Norfolk. She said: “A combination of factors has led to the halving of UK songbirds in just two generations.
“Habitat loss, lack of food, predation and invasion by non-native species are all to blame. Education is everything when it comes to conservation, so what3birds? will inform people which species are at risk in their region, and how to help. We hope the campaign stokes curiosity and unites us all as bird lovers of Britain.”
For more information and to plot birds you’ve spotted visit the charity’s website or follow them on Twitter.
