Sparrow birdsong continues to decline in Haringey

The findings have been revealed in the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch, a survey giving a snapshot of birds in our gardens year on year. Some 30,000 Londoners took part this latest survey.

The numbers of house sparrow sightings have dropped significantly over the last five years, while others have held firm or increased. They fell from an average of more than two in every Haringey garden that took part in the survey, to an average of 1.5.

Sightings of starlings have held up in Haringey, but London-wide they too are falling.

RSPB London's Tim Webb said: “This year's cold weather didn't help our smaller garden birds.

"The snow and ice deprived many of them of food and water at a time when they needed to eat more to survive. However, the Big Garden Birdwatch reveals trends and it's clear that over the past five years we've witnessed a steady fall in house sparrow and starling numbers.

"Both these species can be found in vast numbers, but the long-term decline is a great worry.

"Something is causing their numbers to tumble and despite extensive research, we're not yet in a position to reverse that.

"However, our research has found that providing food and shelter helps, so residents can step-up for nature by managing their gardens for wildlife and putting up nest boxes."

Across Greater London the house sparrow fell out of the top three most common garden birds, coming fourth behind the blue tit. Starlings came top, followed by the woodpigeon.

Despite the fall, house sparrows remain one of the most common UK species and nationally retained the number one spot.

Mr Webb said: "With this in mind, it's easy to be complacent, but here is a species that is dying out, and we don’t know why. That should ring alarm bells."

In the schools' version of the survey, 5,000 London pupils and teachers took part and found woodpigeons to be the most common urban school birds, followed by blackbirds and black headed gulls.

Big Garden Birdwatch Coordinator Sarah Kelly says: "It's fantastic that so many people stepped up for nature by taking part. With this amount of interest in our environment we’re hopeful that many will go a step further and help save and protect both our wildlife and the wild places that support it."