Blue tits face city struggle

URBAN birds struggle to raise a family because of a dearth of caterpillars.

Blue tits are attracted to towns and cities because they offer food and shelter but urban areas also become a wildlife ghetto.

A Scottish study found the breeding success of urban blue tits was five times worse than their rural counterparts. It has implications for wildlife with many animal species, especially birds, suffering reduced reproduction as they trail humans into built-up areas.

The planting of oak trees – caterpillars’ favoured home – is among strategies being suggested along with less use of insecticides.

Poor nestling diet was found to be linked to the low breeding success of city blue tits, with them having to rely on indigestible peanut granules instead.

With more than half the human population living in cities they offer certain benefits for birds but these benefits can be offset by major ecological deficits – as now shown for blue tits.