Germany's 'Hour of Winter Birds' reveals dwindling numbers

The usually common great tits and blue tits were reported less frequently this year, likely due to mild temperatures.

 Germany's 'Hour of Winter Birds' reveals dwindling numbers. (photo credit: Monika Surzin. Via Shutterstock)
Germany's 'Hour of Winter Birds' reveals dwindling numbers.
(photo credit: Monika Surzin. Via Shutterstock)

Germany's annual winter bird count revealed a decline in sightings of common bird species, according to the Naturschutzbund (NABU). The organization announced that blackbirds, house sparrows, and field sparrows were sighted less during the bird count on the second weekend of January than in previous years, with blackbirds counted 40 percent fewer than last year, reported Die Zeit.

Over 122,000 people participated in the 'Hour of Winter Birds' nationwide, according to NABU. The citizen science initiative invites volunteers to observe and count birds for one hour, such as those seen at bird feeders in gardens, on balconies, or in parks. This year marked the 15th time the event has taken place, making it Germany's largest citizen science project, reported Focus Online.

Blackbirds were sighted less frequently in gardens and parks than in the previous year. "Especially striking is the counting result for the blackbirds," stated NABU, according to Stern. The decline in blackbird sightings was 18 percent nationwide, with the species counted 40 percent fewer than last year. NABU attributes this decrease to many sick and dead blackbirds suspected of being infected with the Usutu virus, which may have contributed to the decline, reported Die Zeit. The Usutu virus causes lethargy in birds and can be fatal, noted Het Nieuwsblad.

House sparrows and field sparrows were also less seen this year than last year. "Field sparrows have been a concern for some time, with their populations having decreased regionally in recent years," said Martin Rümmler, according to Stern. The house sparrow is increasingly struggling with the consequences of urban development measures and is finding fewer niches and crevices, reported Focus Online. As a building-nesting bird, it depends on niches and crevices that are often closed during renovations.

The usually common great tits and blue tits were reported less frequently this year, likely due to the mild temperatures and sufficient food available in open fields. Blue tit sightings decreased by 8 percent, reported Die Zeit. "With sufficient food and little cold, these species often stay away from gardens and feeding stations more often," noted Focus Online.

Bernd Petri, NABU's bird protection expert, expressed concern over the declining numbers. "We have been observing for years that even among common species like sparrows, blackbirds, and tits, the number of reported birds is continuously decreasing," he stated, according to Focus Online.

Despite the declines, the top five most sighted winter birds this year are the same as last year—house sparrow, great tit, blue tit, blackbird, and field sparrow—though sightings of these species have decreased compared to the previous year. Following the house sparrow, great tits and blue tits are in second and third place, each with a decrease of seven percent, reported Frankfurter Allgemeine.

In some regions, certain species were observed more frequently. Mountain finches were counted almost five times more frequently in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern than in the previous year, reported Die Zeit. Hessen saw three times as many bramblings reported compared to the previous year, noted Stern.

NABU is calling for the next major bird counting event, the 'Hour of Garden Birds', from May 9 to 11, reported Stern. The organization encourages public participation to continue monitoring bird populations and trends.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq