It’s almost time for his year’s RSPB Big Gardenwatch event, an opportunity to take part in one of the world’s largest citizen science projects and to contribute to the knowledge we have on the birds around the UK. In previous years, more than a million participants counted more than 17 million birds to add to our understanding of which British birds are where and in what numbers. Sadly, records show that we have lost over 38 million birds from Britain over the past 50 years, and continual monitoring will enable new conservation programmes to be set up and the effectiveness of current actions to be determined. All you have to do is simply to count the number of birds seen in your garden or local park, or even from your balcony, within a one hour period at some time over the Gardenwatch weekend (27th -29th Jan 2023). Some schools will also be running similar counting schemes to add to the data gathered.
You don’t have to be an expert to take part, nor do you need any special equipment or preparations to do so, and the activity is one that older children would probably enjoy taking part in too. All the information you need is available through the Gardenwatch website, but we include some thoughts below:
- Choose 2-3 locations within your chosen area where you can leave small quantities of feed and water to entice birds to visit. Sunflower hearts appear to be very popular with many birds, but other seeds, fat-balls, suet blocks, unsalted peanuts, nyger seeds, porridge oats will also attract a variety of birds.
- These feeding places should not be too far away from trees or shrubs, so that your diners have some cover to escape to quickly if they are disturbed, but far enough for any approaching predators to be detected in time for the birds to escape. Ours are about 3-5 metres away.
- Choose a place from where you can comfortably see the feeding points and as much of the rest of your area as possible without disturbing your visitors if you move.
- Make sure you have pens/pencils and paper or recording forms close by, so that you don’t have to move far or quickly to get them, otherwise you will frighten your visitors away.
- Keep an eye on all the bushes, trees and other vegetation within your chosen area; birds will often rest there before plucking up courage to come down to feed or whilst waiting their turn at feeders or even whilst eating the food they have just gathered.
- If you have them, binoculars will help you pick out any birds perching or foraging in undergrowth, but don’t concentrate on them for too long, otherwise you will miss those who visit the rest of your area.
- If you see a bird that you don’t recognise and isn’t pictured on the RSPB recording form, make quick notes of its appearance, or take a photograph, to enable you to look it up later.
- Your results will almost certainly be better if you are able to put small quantities of feed out for several days before hand, so that local birds get to know that your restaurant is now open.
- You might like to have some snacks and drink close by to add to your enjoyment.
Don’t worry if you can’t do all of the above – any record is better than no record, but the main thing is that you enjoy the chance to watch nature going on around you. Good luck and have fun.
JP Ecological Services 