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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Helena Horton

Blackbird numbers plummet in south of England amid potential spread of virus

England BTO United Kingdom
A blackbird (Turdus merula) in an orchard in Norfolk.
A blackbird (Turdus merula) in an orchard in Norfolk. The virus is potentially fatal to blackbirds and is thought to be spreading across south-east England. Photograph: Mike Powles/Getty Images

Beloved by Shakespeare and the Beatles, the blackbird and its sweet song have captured the imagination of Britons for centuries.

But now the songbird is facing decline, and the British public has been asked to contribute to a survey by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) to find out why.

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