The Decline of the Blue Tit and How We Can Help

In recent years, the once-familiar flutter of the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) in Europe's gardens and backyards has quietly faded.

Bringing Color to Our Yard, Even in Winter

A study found that between 1990 and 2018, the blue tit remained common, with its population relatively stable.

In 2020, however, a sudden bacterial outbreak swept through parts of Europe, especially Germany, led to a sharp decline of the blue tit population. That same spring, an early warm spell caused caterpillars — their main food during the breeding season — to emerge too soon. By the time the chicks hatched, much of their food had already vanished. On top of that, growing competition at garden feeders made it even harder for these small birds to find enough to thrive.

No Leaves, But the Blue Tit is Still Here

Today, although blue tit numbers have recovered somewhat since the pandemic, they are still not as abundant as they once were. Recent birdwatch counts show a continued, if gradual, decline. The pressures they face are all too familiar: habitat loss, pesticide use, shifting seasons, and disease. Blue tits, so often the first flutter of life we see in the morning, are quietly struggling.

There is no quick fix, but there are small, meaningful steps we can take.

Planting for insects, avoiding chemicals, and keeping feeders clean, ensuring that the gaps in the feeders are too small for larger birds like starlings, may not solve everything, but it might just give blue tits a better chance.

A Net Around the Feeder, Keeping Larger Birds at Bay

And of course, we can also invite them to nest by offering the right kind of nesting boxes.

If you’d like to encourage blue tits to nest, it’s important to make sure the hole in the nesting box is around 25–30 mm. In the photo below, you can see a nesting box with a hole designed just for them. Holes larger than 32 mm, and especially those bigger than 35 mm, are more likely to be taken over by great tits or other larger birds before the blue tits have a chance.

Make It the Right Size, and They Will Come

The playful, curious blue tits bring a special joy to our gardens. By making a few thoughtful changes, we can give them the best chance to thrive. In return, we can continue to enjoy their lively presence in our lives.

As in most of my blogs, I took all the photos and wrote the text myself. If you enjoyed this, you can see more of my work here. I’d really love to hear what you think, so feel free to share your thoughts, requests, or ideas in the comments!

Happy Nature Exploration!