The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch is the largest wildlife survey in the world, running for just over 40 years. The data collected over that time has alerted us to some dramatic changes in the populations of our native wild birds.

The survey has shown the song thrush declining by 76% since 1979, with sparrows and starling populations also decreasing, by 56% and 80% respectively. 

There is some good news. Great tits and long-tailed tits are rising up the ranks, with sightings up 66% and 44% over the course of the survey.

Running alongside the Big Garden Birdwatch, since 2002, the RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch has encouraged over 1 million school children to go outside and observe their local wildlife. Blackheath High School’s Eco Club took advantage of some lovely winter sunshine this week, to get out onto the Heath with their binoculars.

Alongside the more familiar feral pigeons and blue tits, were ring-necked parakeets, perching on one of the houses and a wren singing beautifully in the gorse.

The students recorded 11 bird species, including a first for Blackheath High School, with the sighting of a chaffinch in the school grounds.