Sparrow sightings come top (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Sparrow sightings come top

COLLARED doves and wood pigeons have flown into the list of top 10 birds most likely to be seen in west Wiltshire's gardens.

The results of the 25th Big Garden Birdwatch survey has shown sightings of collared doves have increased by 525 per cent since the survey began in 1979.

Around 5,230 people across the county took part in the RSPB's largest ever bird survey this year, which revealed that house sparrows are the most likely species to appear in a Wiltshire garden, while the number of starlings has plummeted from 15 per garden to an average of 4.3.

Numbers of wild birds are seen as an indicator of the health of the countryside and the survey, which asked people to record birds in their garden on January 24-25 this year, is used by the RSPB as a reliable snapshot of changes in bird populations.

Coordinator Tony Whitehead said: "We're amazed at how the popularity of Big Garden Bird-watch has grown. Over time we have been able to measure population changes among our familiar birds some quite surprising."