The world’s largest garden wildlife survey – the RSPB‘s Big Garden Birdwatch – returns this month, with hundreds of thousands of people watching and counting the UK’s garden birds over the last weekend in January. Nearly 700,000 people took part in 2022, counting 11 million birds.
This year’s event takes place on 27th, 28th and 29th January 2023. People are asked to spend just one hour watching and recording the birds in their garden, balcony or local park, then send their results to the RSPB.
This year marks the 44th Big Garden Birdwatch. Starting in 1979, it has since become a much-loved annual event that helps give the RSPB a valuable snapshot of how our garden birds are doing in the UK. Over that time, 172 million birds have been counted and nearly 11 million hours spent watching garden birds.
Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s Chief Executive, said: “The birds we see in our gardens, from our balconies, and in our parks, are a lively, colourful and endlessly fascinating part of all our lives, offering a real connection to the natural world. By taking part in the Birdwatch you, and hundreds of thousands like you, play an important role in helping us understand how UK birds are doing. With birds now facing so many challenges due to the nature and climate emergency, every count matters. Join us for Big Garden Birdwatch 2023 and together let’s take action to protect and preserve our birds and wildlife for generations to come.”
The house sparrow remained at the top of the RSPB‘s Big Garden Birdwatch rankings as the most commonly seen garden bird with more than 1.7 million recorded sightings in 2022. Blue tit and starling remained in the number two and three positions respectively.
Over its four decades, the RSPB‘s Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world. It was first to alert the RSPB to the decline in song thrush numbers, which are down a shocking 81% compared to the first Big Garden Birdwatch in 1979. This species was a firm fixture in the top 10 in 1979 but, by 2009, its numbers were less than half those recorded in 1979. It came in at 20 in the rankings last year, seen in just 8% of gardens.
To take part in the RSPB‘s Big Garden Birdwatch 2023, watch the birds on your balcony, in your garden or in your local green space for one hour at some point over the three days. Only count the birds that land, not those flying over. Tell us the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour.
Beccy added: “Whatever you see – one blackbird, twenty sparrows or no birds at all – it all counts. It helps us build that vital overall picture of how our garden birds are faring from one year to the next. With so much challenging our birds now, it’s more important than ever to submit your results. Our garden birds are counting on you!”
The parallel event, RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch. takes place during the first half of spring term, 6th January to 20th February 2023. In 2021, it celebrated its 20th anniversary of connecting children with nature in their school grounds. Since its launch, over a million school children and teachers have taken part. Further information if you still want to take part as a school can be found at www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch
For your FREE Big Garden Birdwatch guide, which includes a bird identification chart, top tips for your birdwatch, RSPB shop voucher, plus advice on how to help you attract wildlife to your garden, text BIRD to 70030 or visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
To help you with your Big Garden Birdwatch activities, take a look at some of these products on offer from the RSPB:
RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds – £7.99
Find out all there is to know about 310 of the most common birds in the UK with this lightweight pocket guide to British birds. The guide features illustrations of species in all distinct plumage forms likely to be seen in the wild, by renowned bird artist Stephen Message. A detailed distribution map for the British Isles is also included.
Ideal for seasoned birders and newcomers to birdwatching, the guide covers behaviour and voice and also outlines where you can find the species, its seasonal movements and the latest UK population data. Confusion species are also cross-referenced, with their most important and easily noted differences from the subject species described.
RSPB Ground bird feeding table with roof – £35
Keep bird food dry and out of the sun with this sturdy roofed ground bird table, made from FSC®-certified wood. This lovely ground table features a gently-sloping roof, which helps to reduce waste by sheltering bird food from the rain. It also provides shade and more protection from large predators for your garden birds. It’s ideal for ground-feeding birds such as blackbirds, robins, thrushes and dunnocks.
Navy sprigs RSPB organic cotton scarf – £16
Part of the RSPB’s organic cotton scarf collection, inspired by nature. This beautiful RSPB 100% organic cotton scarf in midnight blue is made from soft organic cotton with strong environmental and ethical benefits over non-organic cotton, proving that fashion doesn’t have to cost the earth. Organic cotton is produced without the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) ensures textiles are produced in a more ecological and socially responsible way.
Water is life bird bath and drinker – £45
Give the birds, bees and other insects in your garden the perfect place to drink and bathe with this lightweight bird bath and drinker. With an innovative step and slope design, it provides birds, bees and other insects with a safe place to drink. The ramps ensure that any creature that enters the water can get out with ease. Built using the lightweight and durable composite material, Polyboo, which is made from 100% recycled plastic and bamboo, the bird bath and drinker has the appearance of stone but is much lighter and tougher, making it easier to move and less likely to break.
Main image credit: Helen Davies from Pixabay
Ailsa Black RSPB Household Square Wall Planner Calendar 2023
£8.75
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