Britain's smallest bird was almost wiped out by the cold weather this winter, according to a new survey that found the number of gardens in which goldcrests were spotted fell by half.
The declines in the tiny bird, which at just 6g weighs less than a 10p piece, were seen throughout the UK and Ireland as the region battled with the coldest winter for several decades.
Across the British Isles, goldcrests were seen in 48 per cent fewer gardens between January and March than on average, with declines reaching 60 per cent in Scotland, the South West and the east of England. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) said the reduction in the number of gardens where goldcrests were resident over the winter month was an early warning of possible major declines in the population as a whole - as gardens would be expected to be a refuge for the birds.
Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/7832601/Britains-smallest-songbird-decling.html
