ONE of the region's most common birds appears to have pulled back from the brink of crisis.

Reports in recent years had suggested a worrying decline in mallard ducks, traditionally a regular sight on ponds and lakes across the North-East and North Yorkshire.

However, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has published figures which suggest that numbers are on the increase again.

The report shows that, between 1975 and 1999, the number of mallards rose by 190 per cent, one of just six of the 19 species surveyed to show an increase.

Another common park bird is also on the increase, according to the BTO, which says numbers of Canada geese went up 27 per cent between 1990 and 2000.

A BTO spokesman said: "The big increase in mallard seems surprising as there are reports that the population in the winter is decreasing rapidly.

"However many of the birds we have here in the winter come from the Continent and global warming may mean that many of them do not bother to seek the warmer west."

In a separate report, BTO Research Biologist David Glue has concluded that record-breaking winter rainfall and an abundance of seeds may have helped some garden birds in areas including the North.

The latest BTO garden birds survey suggests that many common birds remain in most gardens.

However, there remains concern about three species which dipped to all-time lows - house sparrow, black-headed gull and reed bunting.