The Big Garden Birdwatch
Jan 7th, 2008 by Birdy Trish
We can all join in the Big Garden Birdwatch by taking an hour to count birds in our local parks or in our gardens or taking part in an RSPB event near where you live
The RSPB’s Big Garden Bird Watch takes place in the United Kingdom on Saturday January 26th and on Sunday January 27th.
The Bird Watch is fun to do and at the same time helps the RSPB monitor garden bird numbers. Just don’t go dizzy trying to count all the birds as they flit too and fro!
The aim of Big Garden Birdwatch is to find out which birds are the most common visitors to our British gardens and parks in winter.
The Birdwatch gives a snapshot view of the bird population in winter in Britain and it is only possible because people like you and me are interested and join in.
What you can do:
- Spend one hour bird watching over the weekend of January 26th and 27th.
- Take part in a local RSPB bird event on the weekend of January 26th and 27th. RSPB Garden Birdwatch Events
- The morning is the best time to take part in the survey, when all the birds are out feeding.
- Record the highest number of each bird species seen at any one time.
- Tell a friend about the weekend and join together to count the birds.
Recording the results of the Birdwatch over the years shows how some birds have declined and some have increased numbers.
From 1979 to 2007
- Chaffinches and great tits have increased their numbers.
- House sparrows and blackbirds show a decline in numbers (but in my garden there is a healthy population)
- Woodpigeons have increased in number much more than any other bird (more about woodpigeons in another post)
The RSPB have further information and a survey form which you can use to help you count the birds you see. The survey form is for counting the birds - do not post that form back to the RSPB.
Join in and have fun either watching from the comfort of your armchair, counting the birds in your local park or going to a local RSPB event.
As well as taking part in this survey don’t forget that these garden birds need feeding. You can help stop the decline of our garden birds by putting bird food out every day.
The RSPB do other surveys as well. I live on a farm and a volunteer from the RSPB has been walking the fields and identifying and counting the birds he has seen - A fascinating farm bird survey
So put the dates of the 26th and 27th January in your diary and take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch Survey. Have fun.
Tags: chaffinches, garden-birdwatch, RSPB, sparrows, woodpigeons
