The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch starts today and we have a feeling with the uptick in interest in birds over the last year it’s going to bigger than ever.
The RSPB has seen a huge increase in website users in the run-up and we’ve seen a similar trend at Bird Spot. We’re getting lots of new visitors to our bird identification guides, as well as people looking to find out how to tell the difference between male and female robins, and how to identify birds of prey (we assume that’s due to sparrowhawks visiting their gardens, rather than golden eagles).
For people stuck at home, watching birds has become a fun way of passing the time. And this year the RSPB is hosting a range of virtual events over the weekend to keep you busy.
A Friday night quiz kicks things off where wildlife novices can find out more about the birds in their garden, with experts to test their knowledge. Live footage will be streamed on the RSPB’s website on Saturday and Sunday with bird watching experts and wildlife enthusiasts who will be sharing facts and tips on wildlife conservation.
And you can share your sightings, photos, and videos on the RSPB’s social media channels, where their team will be on hand to answer all your questions.
The Big Garden Birdwatch has been running for 41 years and 144 million birds have been counted, providing important insights into how wildlife is doing in the UK. Unfortunately, the data shows a worrying trend with the number of breeding birds down by 25% since 1979.
Song thrushes, for example, which were in the top 10 in 1979 didn’t even make it into the top 20 last year. And although sparrows regularly take the number one spot, their numbers have declined by 53% since the first Birdwatch.
Although there weren’t any particularly rare visitors last year, some of the more unusual birds that turned up in gardens included wigeons, teals, lapwings, and skylarks. We’re just surprised nobody claimed to have spotted a cuckoo!
It’s simple to take part; simply spend an hour counting all the birds that visit your garden and submit the answers online via the RSPB’s website before the 19th February. The results will be published later in the year.
If you’re one of those people whose garden birds always seem to disappear the minute you settle down to begin counting, we’ve got an explanation of where they could have gone here.
And if you’re new to bird watching in your garden and want to attract more birds. our handy guide of top tips will help you turn your outside space into a wildlife haven.
