Nature watch: Silvereye numbers down

Lynne Douglas has photographic proof that kereru (New Zealand native pigeons) eat the fruit of Idesia polycarpa, last week's Nature Watch subject. She photographed this one in a tree on Somme Pde a few years ago, and says she has seen blackbirds eating the fruit as well. PHOTO/LYNNE DOUGLAS

Landcare Research's annual garden bird survey took place from June 28 to July 6 this year.

It's a time when people all over New Zealand take an hour to count the birds in their gardens. They send in the results, which are then collated.

Preliminary results for this year are that house sparrows are still by far the most common birds. They have increased in all the last seven years. Silvereyes were at their lowest count on record, though some people said that might be because the mild winter has meant they can find food elsewhere and don't need to come into gardens.

Numbers of fantails and tui increased in the last seven years. This year they are tracking about average.