The number of house sparrows nationwide is in serious decline with 50 percent fewer flying around today than 25 years ago.

On Monday 15 March Hampshire County Council is launching a survey asking residents to record house sparrow sightings.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) describes the house sparrow as ‘noisy and gregarious’. They like to live close to people and can be found in city centres, towns and villages as well as on farmland in the countryside, and feed on seeds and scraps.

With an estimated 2.1-3.7 million breeding pairs in the UK, the house sparrow has been put on the ‘red list’ – the RSPB’s list of birds which have declined in number by 50 percent or more. The cuckoo, grey partridge and turtle dove are also on the red list.

The RSPB categorises species of birds requiring conservation action according to three lists, red, amber and green with those on the red list facing the most urgent issues. Amber comes next, and then green. For full details of why species are put on these lists see the RSPB website.

To register to take part in the house sparrow survey, visit the Hampshire County Council website – enter your name and email address and the Council say they will send further details shortly.

You can use any outdoor area as your survey site – from your garden, to a farm building, your school playground, balcony or allotment.

The survey runs from 15 March to 30 June, and the Council want your findings even if you have no house sparrow sightings to report.

Chris Packham, wildlife expert and television presenter and President of the Hampshire Ornithological Society, said “The House Sparrow is a great British bird, it would be terrible if we did nothing to stop its disappearance.”

The RSPB is a charity working to promote the conservation of wild birds. It has over a million members, including over 170,000 youth members. It employs 1,300 members of staff and has over 13,000 volunteers.

For details about the Hampshire Bird Festival see Hampshire County Council’s website, and also Hedeendpeople stories, ‘Which Bird Most Represents Hampshire? Now’s Your Chance To Vote!’ and ‘Hampshire Bird Festival: The Kestrel Wins Favourite Bird & Chris Packham Opens Manor Farm Bird-hide’.

Photo from Flickr by Umang Dutt.