Blackbirds most numerous birds near British schools

This is a video about a singing blackbird from the Netherlands.

From Wildlife Extra:

Blackbird is top bird in playgrounds

April 2014: For the sixth year in a row the blackbird is the most common school playground visitor in the UK, a RSPB survey finds.

Eighty-five per cent of schools that took part in the survey in the Big Schools Birdwatch saw blackbirds, with an average of five birds seen per school, slightly down on 2013 figures.

Starlings held onto the number two spot, but carrion crows moved up two places from fifth in 2013 to third this year. Carrion crows were spotted at more than half of all schools; the average counted during the hour-long survey was four.

More than 70,000 pupils and teachers counted the birds in their school grounds for one hour of one day between 20 January and 14 February. Their sightings contribute to the results of RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch – the biggest wildlife survey in the world.

The bird with the most significant change in rankings compared with last year is the black-headed gull, which dropped from third to sixth place. Just 35 per cent of schools recorded black-headed gulls in 2014, contrasting with 75 per cent the previous year.

Overall, average numbers of birds spotted appear to be down this year; however experts at the charity believe this is more likely to be because of the mild weather. Availability of natural food sources in the wider countryside meant birds didn’t need to visit school grounds to feed.

James Harding-Morris, the RSPB’s Big Schools’ Birdwatch Co-ordinator, said:

“It’s encouraging that so many children and teachers continue to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch, especially when this winter’s mild weather meant birds didn’t turn up in the numbers they usually do. Seeing nature first-hand is the single best way to enthuse young people about it, and by watching birds from their classroom window they can learn so much about the amazing diversity of wildlife living on their doorstep.

“Finding out which birds they share their playground with always gets children excited, and through that excitement comes learning. Most importantly, it encourages them to help us give nature a home.”