We must ensure we look after beautiful British songbirds

As we approach the new year months, we must not forget our songbirds who need our care and devotion more than at any other time of year.

After all, their song has been one of our greatest sources of solace during the pandemic lockdown.

Yet, UK songbirds have seen a 50 per cent decline in 50 years.

Here in the South East, the turtle dove has fallen by 96 per cent, and the willow warbler by 81 per cent.

Food in the wild becomes ever scarcer with the onset of winter when daylight hours diminish, meaning birds have to work harder and faster to find the energy and nourishment required to survive cold winter nights.

At the same time, songbird predators will be feeling the pangs of hunger as their own food sources diminish.

This means birds must be extremely vigilant – as well as resourceful - to evade predators whilst they feed themselves.

Life would be a lot easier for songbirds if there were not so many threats (food, habitat, predation) around, but until the subject of predation is taken seriously by conservation bodies and governments alike, the struggle for survival will remain unnecessarily harsh.

The university research that our charity funds tries to get to the bottom of the 50 per cent decline in 50 years, and identify how we can prevent the dawn chorus falling silent.

The University of Exeter University is identifying how cat owners can take steps to reduce hunting by cats, and the University of Sussex is investigating the impact of specific pesticides on birds.

If we can make life just a little easier for them, there is a chance that more of our iconic songbirds might just survive the winter, and go on to breed in the spring.

Surely, we owe it to them after all the comfort and joy they have brought us during this year of lockdown?