Most Common Winter Birds in Austria: Great Tit Takes First Place

According to the participatory action by BirdLife, no other bird is observed as frequently in this country, it was said on Wednesday in a press release. Between January 4th and 6th, nature lovers across Austria were once again called upon to document all birds for an hour. A total of 17,000 reports were received.

After the great tit, the house sparrow and the tree sparrow were most frequently sighted. BirdLife was particularly pleased in the 16th edition of the count about the brambling. Hardly ever have so many specimens of the animal been observed as this year. As of Wednesday morning, 30,000 were reported. This puts the brambling in seventh place with 1.8 birds per garden, in Salzburg in fifth place, and even in fourth place in Upper Austria.

"We are thrilled that so many bramblings could be observed during the "Hour of the Winter Birds"," said project leader Evelyn Hofer. The animal breeds in the coniferous and birch forests of Scandinavia. In winter, according to BirdLife, the bird prefers to look for beechnuts, which is why it is sometimes found in large numbers in Central Europe. In Austria, in addition to beech-rich forests, it also often visits feeding places in residential areas.

On Average 31 Birds Reported per Garden

During the two counting days this year, an average of 31 birds per garden were reported. Last year it was 32. Since 2020, the number has remained stable with values around 30 individuals. However, a longer-term view from 2010 to 2025 shows a negative trend. The reasons for this are the increasingly mild winters, which are due to man-made climate change, the increasing frequency of mast years and the overall reduced influx of birds from the north.

In addition, due to development, the increasing destruction of habitats and the numerous gardens designed far from nature, the animals often no longer find good living conditions in cities and villages.

Observations can still be reported to BirdLife Austria until January 14th - including online at www.birdlife.at or by mail. The final result will be presented on January 20th.

(APA/Red)

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