Importance Score: 75 / 100 🔴
Emerging data reveals that a lethal virus decimating blackbird populations has rapidly expanded across southern England in just five years. This alarming spread of the Usutu virus raises significant concerns for UK bird species. Experts suggest the devastation will inevitably continue nationwide, affecting garden birds and broader ecosystems.
Usutu Virus Threatens UK Blackbird Populations
Mya-Rose Craig, a prominent environmental campaigner from Somerset, known as BirdGirlUK, expressed her concerns regarding the impact of the Usutu virus. She stated that the virus’s spread highlights the struggles faced by British wildlife “in a way people don’t realise.” Craig, who has advocated for environmental protection since age 13, emphasized the link between blackbird decline and climate change.
Dramatic Population Decline
Over the past five years, blackbird populations in Greater London have plummeted by as much as 40%. Craig, who received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bristol in 2020, highlighted the significant role blackbirds play in the UK’s soundscape. “My biggest concern is that blackbirds are one of the most common species in the UK; they are everywhere,” she noted. “When you hear bird song, it’s quite often blackbirds that you are hearing, so I think [their decline] is quite upsetting.”
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Call to Action: Helping Blackbirds in Your Garden
Experts encourage UK residents with gardens to take proactive steps to support bird conservation. Recommendations include making gardens more bird-friendly and participating in a comprehensive survey, allowing the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) to monitor the decline of these cherished garden birds. This citizen science initiative aims to provide crucial data on the Usutu virus impact.
Craig emphasized the urgency of the situation: “Our garden species are so special, which is why I find it so worrying – the speed of decline we are experiencing at the moment.” She further added, “Our wildlife is really, really struggling in the UK in a way I don’t think people really realise.”
Experts attribute the current situation to warm, dry springs, such as 2025, which was the sunniest on record. These conditions force creatures underground, harden the soil, and impede blackbirds‘ ability to find food for themselves and their offspring. Consequently, providing suitable food sources can significantly aid these birds.
How Blackbirds in Gardens Contribute to Research
The “Blackbirds in Gardens” survey will assist the BTO in evaluating potential disease transmission among blackbirds by analyzing bird congregation patterns. The data will also help determine how blackbirds utilize different garden types and assess the success of raising young birds across varying levels of urbanization, from rural to urban gardens. Understanding garden bird behavior is critical for effective conservation efforts.
The BTO stated, “Although largely harmless to humans, this is the first time in modern history that a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis (a disease which can be transmitted from animals to humans) has emerged in wild animal hosts in the UK but, with changing climates, more may occur in the future.”
“Using Usutu virus and Blackbirds as a case study, this survey is part of the Vector-Borne RADAR project, a wider partnership project funded by the UKRI and Defra to understand the emergence and transmission of mosquito-borne viruses in the UK more generally which are expected to increase with climate change.”
“The project will improve understanding of how these viruses emerge in new environments, enhance surveillance of diseases in wild birds in the UK and develop an early warning system for disease outbreaks.”
This survey will be conducted until September 2025.
How to Participate in the Survey
You can register for the “Blackbirds in Gardens” initiative online and contribute to vital research on UK bird populations.
Practical Steps to Help Blackbirds
There are several measures you can take to help mitigate the spread of the Usutu blackbird virus. RHS Senior Wildlife Expert Helen Bostock and Senior Ecologist Caitlin McLaughlin offer the following recommendations:
- Minimize unnecessary standing water in your garden, as it serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes: turn wheelbarrows upside down when not in use to prevent rainwater accumulation, store plant saucers when not required, ensure gutters are free of obstructions, and use lids on water butts (this also lowers the risk of wildlife drowning).
- Routinely clean out bird baths, replenishing with fresh tap water. Disinfect bird feeders weekly to eliminate any buildup of food and droppings, and sanitize the area surrounding bird feeders and tables. Maintaining proper hygiene at feeding stations will also help curb the transmission of other avian diseases, such as trichomonosis, which has significantly impacted greenfinch and chaffinch populations.
- Remain vigilant for unusual behavior or deceased blackbirds – symptoms include lethargy, weakness, loss of coordination, and seizures. Report any signs of illness or the discovery of a dead blackbird to Garden Wildlife Health. While Usutu is not a notifiable disease, reporting helps scientists track its progression. When handling a deceased blackbird, or any nearby feathers or droppings, wear disposable gloves or a plastic bag over your hand and thoroughly wash your hands afterwards with soap and water.