The BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH is almost here again and it’s easy to be part of it. Simply choose an hour between 26th and 28th January and count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony, or in your local park. Only count birds that land. Then tell the RSPB what you saw. Even if you saw nothing, it still counts.
Last year hundreds of thousands of nature lovers took part in Big Garden Birdwatch across the UK and it’s now more important than ever that we tray and support the event to help us understand how our birds are doing.
Across the UK, over half a million people took part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2023, counting a whopping 9.1 million birds! House Sparrows took the top spot, but counts of these chirpy birds are down by 57% compared to the first Birdwatch in 1979. In fact, we’ve lost 38 million birds from UK skies in the last 60 years. With birds facing so many challenges, it’s more important than ever to get involved in the Birdwatch. Every bird you do – or don’t – count will give us a valuable insight into how garden birds are faring.
MOST SPOTTED IN 2023
Here’s a few tips to help you over the weekend.
- Set up a feeding station – Bird feeders stand out as one of the easiest places to observe birds.
- Get the kinds involved – Whether with friends or family, birdwatching is a lovely activity to enjoy together.
- Use tools – Distinguishing between a house sparrow and a tree sparrow can be challenging. Books or bird apps can help.
- Hang up nest boxes – Nest boxes and bird houses contribute to birds’ well-being throughout the year.
All observation data will be collected and analysed after the conclusion of the campaign. A comprehensive analysis of bird species, population numbers, population trends, and observation locations will be compiled nationwide. The goal isn’t to obtain precise population figures but rather to identify frequencies and trends.
The campaign paints a regional and nationwide portrait of bird life in villages and towns. Ultimately, the population data is compared with previous years, unveiling new insights into the development of numerous bird species and potentially regional variations. These results form a supportive foundation for potential bird conservation measures.
This ia a fantastic way to raise awareness of the fascinating world of birds while contributing valuable data to the study and conservation of bird diversity.
In close collaboration with renowned ornithological organisations and conservation experts, significant progress has been made in researching migratory behaviour, breeding habits, and population trends. These findings serve as the foundation for targeted conservation measures aimed at supporting endangered species and protecting habitats.
This is what you need to do next…..
- Sign up on the RSPB website
- Find a good spot to watch the birds in your garden or a local park and choose an hour between between Friday 26th and Sunday 28th January.
- Have fun identifying the species visiting your garden during that hour and count the maximum number of each species you see at any one time. For example, if you see a group of three House Sparrows together and after that another one, the number to submit is three. This method means it is less likely you will count the same birds more than once and makes data analysis easier. Make a note of any other wildlife that you spot as well.
- Submit your results on the Big Garden Birdwatch website. Even if you don’t see anything, that’s still useful information. (If you can’t submit your results online, you can print off the form from the free guide and send it by post).
- Join in the conversation on RSPB social channels throughout the weekend to see what other nature lovers are spotting across the UK and upload your own pictures and comments using #BigGardenBirdWatch
- Look out for the results in April and take pride in having contributed data from your patch.
