RSPB says successful breeding season and kind weather could see many species faring well in this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Blue tits, great tits, greenfinches and chaffinches are set to bounce back into British gardens this winter after a successful breeding season and “relatively kind” conditions.

More than half a million people are expected to spend an hour this weekend spotting birds and other wildlife in the 39th year of the Big Garden Birdwatch, the world’s biggest wildlife survey.

The RSPB is predicting a bumper year for colourful finches and members of the tit family, including long-tailed tits, after disease and wet weather caused a population slump.

“This year could be a bumper weekend of sightings for some of our resident British birds,” said Daniel Hayhow, RSPB conservation scientist. “So keep your eyes peeled for the greenfinches, chaffinches and various tit species.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A blue tit and a chaffinch share a branch. Photograph: Alamy

Numbers of greenfinches and chaffinches have slumped over the last decade because of the disease trichomonosis. Small garden birds also suffered from wet weather during the breeding season two years ago.

“Last spring was an improvement – temperatures on average were higher and rainfall was lower so we’ve got significant increases in breeding success for species in long-term decline, such as greenfinch and chaffinch,” said Hayhow.

“Small-bodied birds can suffer high mortality in cold winters but while we’ve had big storms this winter we haven’t had prolonged periods of cold and frozen ground so we’re hoping more of these young birds will have survived.”

Last year, the most common species among 8 million birds recorded was the house sparrow, followed by the starling, both of which are in long-term decline.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A magpie feeding from a coconut bird feeder in a Surrey garden. Photograph: Graham Prentice/Alamy Stock Photo

While the song thrush has dropped out of the top 20 altogether, some birds have soared since the Big Garden Birdwatch began in 1979. Woodpigeons are up by more than 1,000% while other thriving species including the goldfinch, collared dove and the bête noire of many garden birdlovers: the magpie.

“Goldfinches have adapted to taking advantage of food put out in gardens for birds,” said Hayhow. “Magpies have been expanding across the country and there is a potential for them to cause a predation problem in the breeding season but it’s a localised effect and there’s no evidence it’s driving overall population trends in smaller garden birds.”

To take part in the survey on 27, 28 and 29 January, people can spend an hour recording the birds they see in their garden, outdoor space or local park, and submit results online.