More than 13,950 Sussex residents, 395 in Eastbourne, took part in the Big Garden Birdwatch the world's biggest bird survey, on January 26-27.

Results show the average number of birds seen in gardens has declined by a fifth since 2004.

The results reveal that starlings were top of the garden bird league table in Eastbourne, with numbers higher than the county average.

Although still one of the commonest birds in UK gardens, fewer house sparrows were also reported from many areas of the south east, and the RSPB is concerned by the indication of continuing decline.

Nationally, sparrow numbers have decreased by almost two thirds since 1979. An average of 3.27 sparrows were recorded in East Sussex gardens this year, compared with 5.40 in 1991. In Eastbourne there were 3.45.

Hester Phillips, of RSPB South East, said, "The survey findings help us to understand more about the population trends of garden birds.

"A snapshot in winter only gives part of the picture, but this year's results also suggest a further fall in sparrow numbers in some areas."

The RSPB has issued an appeal to people in Eastbourne to give a helping hand to wildlife that is struggling to cope with a changing environment.

The RSPB's Homes for Wildlife project provides simple wildlife-friendly actions that people can carry out in their homes and gardens.

However, not all garden birds had the winter blues. The survey also showed that four colourful species of finches are increasingly visiting our gardens.

Siskins, bramblings, redpolls and goldfinches were all more common in the region's gardens.

For the first time, the colourful goldfinch made it into the UK Top 10 garden bird list, with a third more birds recorded than in 2004. In East Sussex, the distinctive chaffinch ranked fifth, with the goldfinch ranking 10th.

Eastbourne mirrored the trend with the chaffinch in at ninth place.

Mr Hester added, "Our gardens can be very welcoming to finches, especially where people put out food and provide a wildlife area where thistles and teasels are left to grow which also provide food."

Nationally, the house sparrow retained its top spot with an average of 3.60 per garden, even though its numbers have decreased since 1979.

Despite its numbers falling by three quarters over the same period, the starling remained in second place and the blackbird completed the top three, with average numbers of 3.44 and 2.45 per garden respectively.

Eastbourne's top 10 were starling, house sparrow, blackbird, blue tit, collared dove, woodpigeon, magpie, jackdaw, chaffinch and robin.