Spring is on its way and with it is the return of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch between 28th – 30th January, which gives everyone the opportunity to help take part in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey! The last few years have shown how important the big outdoors is for our mental health and wellbeing so why not join in and enjoy the benefits of being outside and observing nature in action. Here’s how to take part in three easy steps –

1. Pick a spot and get comfy. All you need to do is pitch up for an hour in your garden, balcony, or local park, and spend an hour watching and recording the birds you see and then send your results to RSPB. This would be a great activity to do as a family – this calls for hot chocolate all round we think!
2. Create a simple tally chart. The RSPB would like to know the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour. You should also only count the birds that land, not those flying over. It doesn’t matter if you only see one type of bird or five different kinds – this information is really vital as it helps to build a picture of how garden birds are faring from one year to the next.
3. Get your free guide. 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. (Physical guides are only available until 23rd January, otherwise, take part online)

Did you know?

• Just one hour every year, for the last four decades, has made the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch the largest garden wildlife citizen science project. Now in its 43rd year, over 150 million birds have been counted giving the RSPB an astonishing amount of insight into how our wildlife is faring.
• The house sparrow remained at the top of the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings as the most commonly seen garden bird with 2.6 million sighted in 2021. The blue tit and starling completed the top three.
• The parallel event, RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch, takes place during the first half of spring term, 5 January – 21 February 2022. 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 can be found at www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch

Will you be taking part in this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch? We’d love to know which birds you see, let us know in the comments!