Wildlife

Wild Song Thrush Garden Welfare

Song thrushes have declined significantly in UK gardens and farmland but benefit from garden management providing earthworms, snails and nesting cover.

Key Facts

UK song thrush populations declined by 54% between 1970 and 2019
They feed extensively on earthworms and snails, using anvil stones to break snail shells
Garden lawns and damp soil provide essential earthworm foraging habitat
Dense shrubs and hedges provide nesting sites for 2-3 broods per season
Slug pellets kill snails that form a critical part of song thrush diet in dry summer conditions

Welfare Considerations

Song thrush welfare benefits from gardens that provide earthworm-rich soil, snail populations and dense nesting shrubs. Avoiding slug pellets and maintaining lawn areas make direct welfare contributions.

What You Can Do

Avoid slug pellets in your garden to maintain the snail population song thrushes depend on
Maintain a lawn area that provides earthworm foraging habitat for song thrushes
Plant dense native shrubs as nesting cover for song thrushes in your garden