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Results 2013

Almost 590,000 people across the UK took part in the Birdwatch in January. Thank you.

Sadly, your results show that some of the UK's most threatened and best-loved bird species are continuing to decline.

Starlings hit an all-time low in the 2012 Birdwatch and their numbers sunk by a further 16 per cent in gardens this year. As a UK 'red-listed' species (meaning it is of the highest conservation concern) this is a worrying trend.

Numbers of house sparrows, also on the red-list, dropped by 17 per cent in gardens compared to 2012, whilst bullfinches and dunnocks, both amber-listed, fell by 20 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.

Whilst the decline of some species continued, others fared better with garden sightings of siskins, fieldfares and jays up by as much as 85 per cent.

You can view the UK top 25, plus a full breakdown of results by county and country by downloading the spreadsheets on this page. The UK top 25 list also has the the top 25 from 2012 for easy comparison.

Gardens 'vital' for some of our most threatened birds

The cold, harsh conditions in the wider countryside back in January is likely to have driven more of these birds into gardens in their search for food.

Last year saw a particularly bad crop of acorns - a favourite among jays - meaning these birds are likely to have visited gardens more than normal during the winter to find alternative food sources.

We go to great lengths to ensure that special UK habitats are given the right levels of designation and legal protection because of their role in supporting threatened wildlife, but what's very clear is that every one of our gardens are important too.

Gardens make up around 4 per cent of land area in the UK and their role as habitats for our wildlife is clear.

They are the places that birds come to for food and shelter when conditions in the countryside are especially tough.

By making gardens as welcoming and supportive for wildlife as we can, we're creating vital space for several of our most familiar and best-loved species, many of which we've seen decline at an alarming rate over the 34 years we've been running the Birdwatch.

How you can help

Whether you've a garden full of greenery, a yard or a window box you can help the wildlife in your garden