Energy saving measures, such as loft insulation and filling gaps between the eaves of houses, may be partly responsible for a two thirds decline since 1970 in the numbers of Britain’s sparrow population; once common starlings and house martins have also undergone similar population falls.
Research into 120 breeding bird species by the British Trust for Ornithology found that while 28 bird species had more than halved over the past 35-45 years, 18, including great spotted woodpeckers, buzzards and collared doves had at least doubled.
Source: Ben Webster, environment Editor, The Times, 13 January 2015.