Results

• Top 10
• Outside the top 10

Surprise in the top ten

For the first time in the survey's 30-year history, the long-tailed tit has flown into the Big Garden Birdwatch top ten.

This highly sociable species increased by an astonishing 88% from last year's count.

We believe this pleasant increase is because this insect-eating bird has adapted to feeding on seeds and peanuts at birdtables and from hanging feeders.

This result highlights perfectly the positive impact that our feeding and bird care can have on some birds.

Record-breaking celebration

Not content with putting a new bird in the top ten, 2009 has also seen a record-breaking number of you counting the birds in your garden.

Well over half a million people celebrated the 30th year of the Birdwatch with us, making this the biggest bird survey in the world.

A huge increase from humble beginnings in 1979 when just 30,000 children took part.

Thanks to everyone that took part.

Birds on the up (and down)

The results show that the average numbers of all but one of the top ten birds have increased slightly since last year. Only starling numbers dropped, although they retained the number two slot.

After putting in a strong performance last year, and appearing in the top ten for the first time, goldfinches dropped out of the top ten rankings last year. However, this isn't as bad as it sounds - along with greenfinches, who also slipped a place this year, both species have actually been steadily increasing in numbers in recent years.

Others have fared even better, and our 30-year data shows an increase of 825% for the wood pigeon and 414% for the collared dove.

Unfortunately, the longer term picture of some of the UK's most loved species is not so rosy. Many have suffered huge declines in the last three decades.

The house sparrow, despite retaining its top spot for the 6th year running, has declined by 63% since the survey began in 1979, and the starling has dropped by 79%.

And the yellow siskin, which made it into the top 20 for the first time in the survey's history last year, and who was a striking addition to many people's gardens, dropped back to number 26.

Creating the perfect habitat

Gardens are an excellent habitat for birds. As more and more people realise the importance of feeding and gardening for wildlife, we are seeing a stunning array of birds on our tables and feeders.

Many of the birds that we're seeing will visit any habitat that provides food.

Gardens will actually become even more important for wildlife if some areas of the countryside become poorer sources of food.

This year's survey took place on a chilly weekend and garden birds are heavily reliant on our supplementary feeding in the cold.

It seems we were suitably paid back for our efforts.

The 2009 garden top ten looks like this:

Would you prefer the full list? Well, you need look no further than the following download.

Please note, however, a few of the rarer species recorded are not shown in these results. Have a look at the Outside the top 10 page to find out more.