CLIMATE change could be affecting birds in West Yorkshire gardens.
That's the fear of the RSPB charity, which is urging people across the country to help them monitor numbers.
This weekend is the charity's Big Garden Birdwatch.
The RSPB hopes 500,000 people in the UK will spend an hour counting the birds in their gardens to help build a detailed picture of garden birdlife.
Jane Selleck, at the RSPB's Denby Dale office, is the regional co-ordinator of Big Garden Birdwatch.
She said: "We're really interested to see what impact the combination of unusual weather and abundant wild food will have on wintering garden bird numbers.
"Autumn last year saw new heat records set across Europe, which means many birds may not have made the journey to the UK so far.
"This could have a real impact on what we see during the Birdwatch."
Last year's Birdwatch found that, since 1976, the number of house sparrows in British gardens was down 56% and numbers of starlings had decreased by 76%.
Despite the falling numbers of some species the current weather could also mean increasing numbers of others.
Recent years have shown increased numbers of wood pigeons and collared doves.
To take part in Birdwatch simply spend one hour over next weekend counting the birds in your garden or local park and record the highest number of each bird species seen at any one time.
Ms Selleck said: "Big Garden Birdwatch is easy to do and can make a valuable contribution to conservation by helping us monitor the effect climate change may be having.
"You don't have to be an expert to take part. It's fun for all the family."
For more information visit the RSPB website www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
