Sparrows: A popular home in Wales

And a new survey says they find Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport a more welcoming home than Caerphilly, Conwy and Torfaen.

The bird protection organisation RSPB held a UK-nation-wide survey between May 3 and May 11. This followed years of reports of declining sparrow numbers throughout the country.

Over the last 25 years, studies have shown that sparrow numbers have halved.

The survey, in which 250,000 people throughout the UK, and 7,000 in Wales took part, revealed an average of 8.34 sparrows per household in Wales compared with a UK average of only 6.69.

RSPB Cymru spokeswoman Ruth Billingham said: "This survey gives us a much better idea of where house sparrows are in Wales.

Sparrow facts Between 3-5 eggs in each clutch Fledgling 11-19 days Maximum lifespan 12 years

"We can see exactly where they are faring well and so can now start looking into what factors help provide a healthy house sparrow population."

She said that gardens where food is provided are more likely to attract and keep a resident house sparrow population since they tend to stay within a mile or so of where they are hatched.

But when food is short, the sparrows clear off and are difficult to entice back.

Bridgend tops the Wales sparrow dining-out league with an average of 11.55 birds per home reported in the survey.

Merthyr Tydfil is second in the sparrow Egon Ronay guide with 10.18 birds per household and Newport (9.04), Carmarthenshire (9.01) and Denbighshire (8.95) the next popular.

The sparrow: once at home in town and country

The lowest reported numbers were in Torfaen (5.72), Caerphilly (6.55), Conwy (7.60) and Wrexham (7.64).

In the table of UK cities, Lincoln came first with 9.41 and London bottom with lowly 4.53. Cardiff was runner up to Lincoln with 8.45.

Ruth Billingham said: "We are urging the people of Wales to help us look after our sparrows to prevent them disappearing."

RSPB Cymru says that sparrows feed on mainly cereal grain but also are attracted by wild, weedy or shrubby areas of the garden that provide natural seed sources and insect life.

Many modern homes do not have the nooks and crannies in which sparrows can build their nests.

So, by providing nest boxes in the gardens of modern homes, as well as food, the sparrows may be encouraged back.