Gardeners urged to leave certain food out to save loved UK bird species

Blackbirds are a well-loved taxon successful the UK, but the British Trust for Ornithology has issued a informing astir a diminution successful blackbird populations - here's however you tin help

UK gardeners are being urged to assistance provender blackbirds this wintertime by scattering sultanas successful their gardens.

The British Trust for Ornithology has warned of a diminution successful the colonisation of these beloved birds, which are often seen foraging successful gardens during the colder months arsenic they bash not migrate south, reports Birmingham Live.

The Trust said: "Blackbirds are a communal vertebrate successful gardens crossed the UK, from agrarian areas to the hearts of cities. However, successful caller years and peculiarly since 2020, birdwatchers person reported less birds being seen successful their gardens, particularly successful London."

A RSPB forum subordinate suggested utilizing sultanas to provender the birds, saying: "Along with the robin I would accidental they are the friendliest of the plot birds and tin go rather tame - though they are besides rather fickle successful that they tin beryllium your 'best friend' erstwhile they're peculiarly bare but erstwhile the prima is shining and determination are berries connected the bush they bash thin to stroke a small cool.

"During wintertime and erstwhile they are breeding I ever person a pocketful of sultanas/raisins, which they perfectly love. I find that the males are friendlier than the females, who thin to beryllium much 'careful'.

"The males often travel maine astir the garden, staying conscionable a mates of feet distant - but if my manus goes into my pouch they often tally and basal astatine my feet. As the starlings often assemblage the feeders, and the blackbirds tin beryllium wussies, the regular blackbirds ever travel to the patio doors and look beseechingly done the solid - they besides sunbathe successful that spot truthful that they are adjacent erstwhile the doors unfastened and sultanas alert retired to wherever they are.

"All successful each - I would accidental that if you privation to foster a person narration with these birds the proposal would beryllium the aforesaid arsenic immoderate pistillate would springiness her girl 'the mode to his bosom is done his stomach'."