A wildlife charity has reported that blackbirds are in decline in Sussex potentially due to a deadly virus.

CPRE Sussex, a countryside charity, has warned that the number of blackbirds in southern England are “plummeting” due to the Usutu virus.

The deadly mosquito-borne virus was first detected in London in 2020, with experts from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) now concerned it is impacting the South East.

The trust is currently conducting a survey to address the decline and better understand the impact of the virus.

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In a post on Facebook, CPRE Sussex said: “Blackbird numbers are plummeting in southern England.

“You can help the British Trust for Ornithology to find out how blackbirds use gardens in Sussex and the potential effects of the Usutu virus on the UK population.

“If you have access to a garden, can reliably identify a blackbird, and can collect data for 15 minutes a week, you could help our much-loved songbird.”

The BTO’s project is being run in conjunction with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the Zoological Society of London and the UK Health Security Agency, who are leading a nationwide project on the virus, called ‘Vector-Borne RADAR’.

Dr Hugh Hanmer, a senior research ecologist with BTO said: “From 2020, blackbirds started declining more strongly, which coincided with the detection of Usutu virus.

“There is now evidence of a wider decline in southern England, not seen in other UK regions.

“The BTO survey seeks to understand why this change is happening and to identify any link to the emergence of Usutu virus. By better understanding how Blackbirds use our gardens, we hope to halt the declines.”

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Dr Arran Folly, senior scientist with APHA and Vector-Borne RADAR project lead said: "Outbreaks of mosquito-transmitted diseases like Usutu virus, which is now endemic in south-east England, are likely to increase in the UK especially as temperatures warm in the wake of climate change.

“Our Vector-Borne RADAR project is helping to develop a better picture of emerging mosquito-borne viruses and the findings from BTO’s Blackbirds In Gardens survey will be invaluable in building a better understanding of how the virus could be impacting our blackbird populations.

“I would urge any garden owners to take part and help us keep track of this virus."