A survey has surprised RSPB experts by revealing the rich and exotic diversity of bird life supported by Birmingham’s canals and rivers.
The survey was carried out last year by 30 volunteers and recorded an astonishing 6,000 birds along the waterways. This week another year-long survey will start to see whether those figures have changed since last year.
The survey, organised by the city council and the RSPB, was the first ever major biodiversity study of Birmingham’s canals and rivers and was designed to see how healthy our water courses really are.
The volunteers were shocked to find out just how many winged swimmers they support, spotting not only common birds like blackbirds, magpies, wrens and robins, but some quite rare breeds including red kite, linnet, tree pipit and ring-necked parakeet.
Alongside the birds were some even more unexpected guests as 254 bats were seen around the water.
RSPB officer Hollie Kent said: “I was gobsmacked when I saw the results from the survey. There are sections of the canal and river network that are absolutely teeming with wildlife, which is excellent news.
“This year we have a large number volunteers who are taking part and hopefully as the years progress, we’ll have more and more useful information about the kind of wildlife that depend on Birmingham’s waterways.”
n For details on becoming an RSBP volunteer, call 01216166850.
