The Big Garden Birdwatch 2023
The Big Garden Birdwatch is here again and we really hope you can take part this year. It’s free, fun, and something that can be done by everyone! Even if you don’t have a garden, the RSPB encourages you to count the birds you can see from your window, balcony, or even your local park. You will play a vital role in helping to understand how our UK birds are doing. You can sign up through the RSPB and look out for your birds on the 27th – 29th of January.
What is the Big Garden Bird Watch?
This year will be the 44th year of the Birdwatch, which start in 1979, and it has been helped throughout the years by hundreds of thousands of nature-loving people, just like you. Each year the Birdwatch provides a vital glimpse of garden birds in winter (when numbers will be at their lowest before the breeding season starts). The Birdwatch is the largest citizen science wildlife survey in the UK and it helps to build a picture of how our girds are faring in the face of the climate emergency. Last year saw nearly 700,000 people take part and counting over 10 million birds. By taking part, you will be taking action to protect your beloved birds now and for generations to come.
How does the Big Garden Birdwatch help?
Using data from the Big Garden Birdwatch, scientists have been able to find that, sadly, we have lost 38 million birds from UK skies over the last 50 years, including massive declines in our staple species such as Robins, House Sparrows, and Starlings, amongst many others. Having the survey every year, allows scientists and conservationists to keep track of our wild bird populations, how and why they may be changing, and how we can help the decline of our wonderful birds.
How can you get involved in the
Big Garden Birdwatch?
You don’t need to be an RSPB member to take part simply register online for your Big Garden Birdwatch guide ready for the weekend. It’s a great way to include all family members by each watching an area or counting together.
You can wrap up warm or stay by the window with a nice hot drink and your binoculars, it’s a great excuse just to sit and watch the wonderful wildlife on display in your gardens and local parks (just don’t forget to actually count the birds!).
It is asked that you spend just 1 hour watching and counting the birds in the area you are surveying and send your results back to the RSPB but remember to only count the birds that actually land on your patch!
Need help identifying a bird?
The Big Garden Birdwatch is a great way of learning about different species of garden birds and being able to identify them. Do you know the difference between a Dunnock and House Sparrow? Will you spot a species you haven’t seen yet this year? There really are so many wonderful reasons to take part, so make sure you’ve got your identifying poster to hand. There are also useful guides on the RSPB website to help you.
How to get your garden Birdwatch ready
It’s never too early or too late to get your garden Big Garden Birdwatch ready. Top up your feeders and tables and fill up your bird baths. try to keep these topped up in the lead-up to the count so the birds know they can rely on this source of food and will come more frequently, this will make your count livelier and more enjoyable! Remember to regularly remove any old food and keep your feeders and feeding stations clean to avoid the risk of disease. To maximise sightings, consider filling up your feeders with any of these products loved by your garden birds.
Suet Products
All of our high-quality suet products are loved by birds in the winter and throughout the year. Thesewill help to attract a wide range of species to your garden this weekend.
Wild Bird Seed Mixes
Our wild bird seed mixes are prepared using top quality, high-calorie ingredients with a mix of ingredients that appeal to a wide range of bird species, guaranteed to impress your garden birds!
Hanging Feeders
Providing your garden birds with high-quality food is important, but having somewhere to put your bird food is key. It will also help you to easily count the different birds coming into your garden.
Straight Seeds
Treat your garden birds to some tasty straight seeds which are of the best quality and provide birds with a safe, nutritious food source. Giving the birds the energy they need to survive all year round and to keep encouraging them back, even after the Big Garden Bird Count!
 
We also have a variety of other wild bird products that can help attract different garden birds all year-round.
We hope you enjoy your Big Garden Birdwatch, and we are really hoping for good results this year – we will be back in touch once the results have been shared, with all the movers and shakers! We would still encourage you to feed your birds all year round to keep them coming to your gardens/ wild spaces and help them to thrive in the face of the environmental crisis they are up against.
