This year there is going to be a bigger focus on monitoring bird populations in the UK, due to 1 in 4 bird species being under threat and the serious decline in birds over the past 50 years. One of those events that kicks off in January is the Big Garden Birdwatch, returning for its 44th largest garden science project.
What is it?
The Big Garden Birdwatch is an event which gets the public involved in tracking birds in their gardens. This will be the 44th event of its kind, where birdwatchers all throughout the UK will be spending an hour in their garden counting birds. Last year, 11 million birds were counted by 700,000 people.
What’s the aim?
The main aim is to keep track of the British population of birds, helping the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and conservationists to see which birds are thriving. It’s also an opportunity for keen birdwatchers to dedicate an hour relaxing on their rattan garden furniture, doing their bit to help Britain’s bird species.
How to take part
The event is happening between the 27th and 29th January 2023 and all you have to do is spend just an hour in your garden watching birds, only counting those that actually land in your garden and not just fly past. You can register and download a free guide on the RSPB website, which also has more details on how to identify different birds.