STARLINGS are the most common bird in Lancashire’s gardens - with sightings more than 60 per cent above the national average.

The noisy garden birds have been in decline in some parts of the country, leading ornithologists to label them a “red species” because of concern over their plight.

But starlings topped the list in the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds annual Big Garden survey, which is published today, with more than five spotted in each garden.

And a nature expert warned large numbers could cause damage to buildings.

Lancashire Telegraph columnist Ron Freethy said: “Going back a few years we did have a huge problem in Blackburn with starlings doing damage to buildings with their droppings.

“Then their numbers went down dramatically, but a situation could arise where we get that again. It’s worth keeping an eye on.”

Mr Freethy said farming methods used in Lancashire had helped boost the starling population.

He said: “Starlings were very much in decline in some parts of the country where farmers used to use a lot of chemicals on crops because they eat worms.

"But in Lancashire we do not use as many chemicals.”

Nine thousand people in 5,000 gardens in Lancashire took part in the society’s Big Garden Birdwatch, the biggest wildlife survey in the world, held on January 30 and 31.

Sparrows, which topped the table nationally, and blackbirds were the second and third most seen birds in Lancashire.

Mr Freethy said he was not concerned by the “doom and gloom” warnings that the cold winter had affected the populations of some smaller birds, like the long-tailed tit, the coal tit and goldcrest.

But Graham Madge, spokesman for the RSPB said: “All three are very familiar birds across the county, and people will notice the drop in population.”

“The smaller birds have to feed constantly, especially the insect eating goldcrest so it will have been difficult for them.

"Their small bodies mean they lose a lot of heat as well,” he added.

>> TOP TEN MOST COMMON BIRDS IN LANCASHIRE

Starling
House Sparrow
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Chaffinch
Collared Dove
Robin
Great Tit
Goldfinch
Long tailed tit
Dunnock.