'Sparrow tsar' to lead investigation into disappearance of 10 million birds

Britain's bird-lovers are to have a "sparrow tsar" to co-ordinate research into why the species that was once commonplace in the nation's gardens is now on the "red list" of endangered creatures.

Rosie Cleary has been appointed by the British Trust for Ornithology to lead a nationwide survey into why the sparrow population has slumped by more than 50 per cent in 30 years. In the cities it has been particularly acute, notably London where there has been a 75 per cent slump since 1994.

Ms Cleary, who has studied house sparrows on Devon's Lundy island and in Leicester, will organise a new 18-month national survey covering the 2003 and 2004 breeding seasons. "I am looking forward to operating closely with our volunteers to work out the causes of house sparrow decline," she said. "It is going to be quite a challenge, but we need to know why 10 million of our sparrows are missing. Since concern first grew there has been wide speculation about the cause but we will approach the survey with a completely open mind."

The decline in sparrows between the 1920s and 1960s has been traced to the demise of horse-drawn transport, which once provided food for for birds as a result of grain spilling from nosebags. Newer factors include pollution destroying the insects required to feed young birds in nests and modern building techniques restricting access to breeding sites in roof spaces. Domestic cats are further suspects ­ a Bedfordshire village study showed that up to a quarter of its breeding sparrow pairs might have been harmed by prowling felines.

Ms Cleary will be recruiting a nationwide army of volunteers to help her. Mike Toms, Garden BirdWatch team leader, explained: "It is important to find out why populations are holding up well in some parts of the country because that could help pinpoint why they have slumped elsewhere."

To find out more about the project phone 01842 750050.