UK breeding bird population shrinks by more than 44 million since 1966

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/nov/19/uk-breeding-bird-population-decline?intcmp=122


State of the UK's Birds 2012 report says the house sparrow population is now around 10 million – 20 million fewer than in 1966. Photograph: Ray Kennedy/RSPB

The UK has lost more than 44 million breeding birds in less than half a century, including an average of 50 house sparrows every hour, according to a report.

Scientists estimate the number of nesting birds has plummeted from 210 million in 1966 to 166 million today. The shocking statistics are contained in the State of the UK's Birds 2012 report, published on Monday, and charting the ups and downs of the nation's bird populations.

One of the biggest losers is the house sparrow, with a population of around 10 million – 20 million fewer than in 1966, when the first reliable all-species bird monitoring scheme was conducted – despite numbers starting to increase in the last 10 years.

[HereSince1628]

1. House sparrow numbers falling...

I wouldn't have expected that.