RESULTS from the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch have revealed a mixed picture for Shropshire garden birdlife.

The survey has revealed that almost half of the top 20 species returning fewer sightings in gardens across the county than 10 years ago.

Now in its 40th year, the Big Garden Birdwatch is a chance for people of all ages to count the number of birds that visit their garden helping the RSPB build up a picture of how they are doing.

The event, held over the last weekend in January, showed the house sparrow has kept its number one spot in Shropshire – UK house sparrow numbers have more than halved, but in recent years national numbers have slowly started to rise again, giving conservationists hope that at least a partial recovery may be happening.

Over its four decades, Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world. It was first to alert the RSPB to the decline in song thrush numbers.

This species was a firm fixture in the top 10 in 1979. By 2009, its numbers were less than half those recorded in 1979.

Samantha Lyster, from the RSPB in the Midlands said: “It’s incredible to see that so many people across the county show a real passion and concern for the wildlife in their gardens and green spaces. People are becoming more and more aware of the challenges and threats that our UK wildlife is currently facing. Citizen science surveys, such as our Big Garden Birdwatch, really help empower people of all ages and backgrounds to play an active part in conservation, and to speak out for the wildlife they love and want to protect.”

To highlight the crisis that nature is facing and the loss of over 40 million wild birds from the UK in just half a century, the RSPB is releasing a specially-created track of birdsong titled ‘Let Nature Sing’.

The single contains some of the most recognisable birdsong that we used to enjoy, but that are on their way to disappearing forever. A compilation of beautiful sound recordings of birds with powerful conservation stories including the cuckoo, curlew, nightingale and turtle dove.

The charity is calling on the public to download, stream and share the single and help get birdsong into the charts for the first time, spreading the word that people across the UK are passionate about nature’s recovery.

Martin Harper the RSPB’s director of conservation said: “Birds are such iconic parts of human culture but many of us no longer have the time or opportunity to enjoy them.

"The time we spend in nature, just watching and listening, can have huge benefits to our wellbeing, especially in these stressful times.

"The RSPB wants to help more people reconnect with their wilder sides and is bringing birdsong back into people’s busy lives by releasing a soothing track of pure unadulterated bird song. We hope that by understanding what we have lost, that we inspire others to take part in the recovery. Without nature our lives are so less complete."

For a full round-up of all the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch results, visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch