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.
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 the RSPB valuable insight into how garden birds are faring.
This year’s event takes place on 26th, 27th and 28th January 2024. 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 45th 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.
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 1.4 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 80% 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.
To take part in the RSPB‘s Big Garden Birdwatch 2024, 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 the RSPB the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour.
The parallel event, RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch. takes place during the first half of spring term, 8th January to 19th February 2024. 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 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, 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.
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.
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Activity Book
Discover useful tips on how to attract birds to your garden or windowsill, learn to identify common birds, follow step-by-step instructions to create a bird-feeder from household items and have a go at lots of fun activities. Wherever you live and whatever time of year it is, there are always birds to spot!
£4
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