Survey founder Dr Eric Spurr said results from the 2022 New Zealand Garden Birds Survey showed there had been "positive trends" for the native species between 2012 and 2022.
Kereru counts had increased by 83% nationally (32% in Otago and 110% in Southland), fantail counts had increased by 55% nationally (146% in Otago and 101% in Southland), and tui counts had increased by 30% nationally (44% in Otago and 34% in Southland), he said.
"Bellbird counts have shown little or no change nationally or in Otago and Southland.
"Although silvereye counts have been declining by 12% nationally over the last 10 years, they have shown little or no change nationally over the last five years.
"However, in Otago they have declined by 32% and in Southland they dropped by 17%."
Despite the drops, Dr Spurr said the silvereye (waxeye or tauhou) was still the second-most common bird in southern gardens.
For only the second time in the past 16 years, the survey showed the humble house sparrow was the most commonly counted species in Otago and Southland gardens in 2022.
"Of the native species, silvereye, tui, and bellbird counts were above average in Otago and Southland gardens, compared with gardens in New Zealand as a whole.
"Of the non-native species, greenfinch and dunnock counts were above average."
Dr Spurr said last year’s survey attracted 5420 responses from participants, nationally.
Of those, 609 survey returns were from Otago, which was 11.2% of total returns coming from just 5% of the households in New Zealand.
"It’s the highest ratio per capita of any province.
"Otago has regularly contributed the highest number of survey returns on a per capita basis, earning it the label ‘the bird capital of New Zealand’."
Southland contributed 125 survey returns in 2022, which was 2.3% of the total returns.
He said the 2023 New Zealand Garden Bird Survey would again be run online, and would run from June 24 until July 2.
