Northern Ireland birds are going for gold
18.05.12
THE RSPB’s Big Garden Bird Watch results are in and tell a story of the continuing recovery for small birds after the two tough winters of 2012 and 2011.
Findings from the world’s biggest garden bird survey also highlight how different Northern Ireland’s garden bird population is from the UK as a whole.
Over the last weekend in January every year, the wildlife charity asks people across the country to spend an hour counting the different birds seen in their gardens, park, patio or schoolyard and submit their results.
Goldfinches, now ranked 4th most sighted species in Northern Ireland (3rd in Co Down), have been moving steadily up the charts in recent years. A decade ago, these colourful little visitors came 10th. Last year they were 5th; could they take bronze next January?
Tiny blue tits, one of the species hardest hit by the Arctic conditions a couple of years ago, are making a welcome resurgence and are now the 5th most recorded garden bird here up from 6th in 2011.
Source: Antrim Times