Region is urged to watch the birdies

Jan 24 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

What's in your garden

GARDENS in County Durham are the best in the North East for birds.

More house sparrows, starlings, blackbirds, blue tits and chaffinches were recorded last year in the county than in Tyne and Wear or Northumberland.

Jackdaws and goldfinch also made the Top 10 in the North East and Cumbrian tables but did not figure in the national league.

Last year’s results were:

Northumberland:

1. House sparrow (average 1.76 per garden); 2. Starling 1.44, 3. Goldfinch 1.35, 4. Chaffinch 1.21, 5. Jackdaw 1.19, 6. Blackbird 1.06, 7. Blue tit, 0.88, 8. Siskin 0.74, 9. Long-tailed tit 0.61, 10. Collared dove 0.55.

Tyne and Wear:

1 Starling 2.57, 2. House sparrow 1.75, 3. Blackbird 1.20, 4. Goldfinch 1.04, 5. Feral pigeon 0.90, 6. Blue tit 0.81, 7. Collared dove 0.72, 8. Jackdaw 0.69, 9. Woodpigeon 0.55, 10. Magpie.

County Durham:

1.Starling 4.57, 2. House sparrow 4.27, 3. Blackbird 2.69, 4. Blue tit 2.44, 5. Chaffinch 2.27, 6. Collared dove 1.30, 7. Jackdaw 1.29, 8. Great tit 1.24, 9. Goldfinch 1.08, 10. Robin 1.08.

Cumbria:

1. House sparrow 4.36, 2. Chaffinch 3.40, 3. Starling 3.72, 4. Blue tit 2.64, 5. Blackbird 2.19, 6. Jackdaw 1.48, 7. Goldfinch 1.39, 8. Great tit 1.37, 9. Robin 1.14, 10, Collared dove 1.09.