h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

When we first moved to Sheffield, 20 years ago, there were no jackdaws and the magpies ruled the roost. Now, although there are still some magpies around, there are many more jackdaws and very noisy they are too! We are on holiday in Holland at the moment and the numbers of jackdaws are incredible, almost one to every chimney pot (and most chimneys have twigs sticking out the top, put there by jackdaws). Even down at the beach there are as many of the birds as there are seagulls (also large flocks of sparrows, I'm pleased to say). Has there been a jackdaw population explosion?

This BTO trends survey should be useful: http://www.bto.org/bbs/trends/index.htm

Oh, and welcome to h2g2, by the way

Thanks, this is helpful and suggests that jackdaw numbers have increased significantly since 1997,in the East Midlands, with magpie numbers increasing slightly; suggesting overall populations are similar.

The experience of our garden is that jackdaws are displacing magpies; and in the area of Holland we visited the jackdaw was by far the most common bird.

here in outer London crows, magpies and jackdaws are all doing well. Last year I counted 20 young jackdaws in my garden for my waterbowl, and every night some 200 fly to roosting ground. I would say numbers are in balance though.

I like jacks as like cheeky teen crows and have a lovely blue line around eye.

ive noticed more of them on the local retail park carpark... maybe they just like domestic appliance stores?

I have noticed lots of wood pigeons (? they are pale-ish grey with white ring round the neck. And extremely fat). They sit on the lampost outside my flat and do that annoying cooing thing. If i didnt think the police would turn up, I'd get a catapult to them.

they sound like woodpigeons. A magpie buried bread in my garden yesterday!

I don't know about them increasing over magpies - but they certainly seem to have increased around here (Hull, East Yorkshire). Some have nested in a tree about 100 yards from my house, and they seem to like using my roof as a resting spot - they love to sit on the edge of the roof, and do the most amazing berry filled poo on the path!
There is also one that likes to visit the local car service bay over the road - it sits on the rear windscreen wiper of hatchback cars, and stares at its reflection!

While we were on holiday, we were facsinated watching a Jackdaw stealing the sugar sachets from cafe tables, pecking them open and then eating the sugar inside. Even the bird community is at risk of obesity from a high carb diet!