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UK Blackbird Populations Plummet 40% Amid Virus Spread

2/4/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Blackbird populations in the UK are facing a dramatic decline of 40% since 2018, largely due to the spread of the Usutu virus from London to regions like Dorset and East Anglia. Experts are calling on homeowners to cover water butts to curb mosquito breeding and to adopt wildlife-friendly gardening practices, as climate change exacerbates this troubling trend.

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Story summary

Blackbird populations in the UK are facing a dramatic decline of 40% since 2018, largely due to the spread of the Usutu virus from London to regions like Dorset and East Anglia. Experts are calling on homeowners to cover water butts to curb mosquito breeding and to adopt wildlife-friendly gardening practices, as climate change exacerbates this troubling trend.