MORE than 6,000 people across Worcestershire took part in this year's RSPB'S Big Garden Birdwatch challenge.

6,175 from the county joined more than one million people nationwide to take part in the charity's challenge 'seeing things through the eyes of a bird', to monitor bird's populations levels.

The results were counted, it has been revealed that house sparrows remain the most commonly spotted bird, with an average of four in each garden.

The top three was completed by blackbirds and blue tits, with eight-and-a-half million birds counted overall.

RSPB conservation scientist, Dr Daniel Hayhow, said: "Many garden birds are in desperate need of our help. During winter, birds need extra food and water, a safe place to shelter and make their home.

"Gardens providing these things are an invaluable resource for birds and are likely to have a significant effect on their numbers, perhaps even playing a pivotal role in reversing some declines.

"We hope through this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch challenge of seeing things through the eyes of birds really helped people to understand exactly how they use your garden, and will allow them to improve the ways to give nature a home all year round."

Despite the large number of sightings, concern has grown for some species of bird.

The population of greenfinches continues to decline, as it has done since 1979, along with starlings and thrushes.

Since the Birdwatch began, starlings have dropped by 80 percent, with thrushes scarcely better at a 79 percent decline.

Both of these species are on the UK red list, meaning they are of the highest of conservation concern.

There was also a notable decline in the number of winter migrants that were spotted over the Birdwatch weekend. Redwing, brambling and waxwing all dived down the rankings although RSPB scientists believe this may have more to do with the good conditions on the continent over the winter, reducing the need for these birds to migrate to the UK.

The Garden Birdwatch is an initiative run alongside Big School's Birdwatch, as part of the RSPB'S Giving Nature a Home campaign.

The charity is asking people to provide a place for wildlife in their gardens and outside spaces – whether it’s putting up a nest box for birds, creating a pond to support a number of different species or building a home for a hedgehog.

To find out how you can give nature a home visit rspb.org.uk/homes