School bell rings in Merseyside to mark the start of world s biggest school wildlife survey

Big Schools  Birdwatch   20 January to 14 February 2014

From 20th January, children across Merseyside will be taking part in the world s biggest school wildlife survey.

They will be among around 75,000 students and teachers from 2,000 schools in the country counting the birds that visit their grounds as part of the RSPB s Big Schools  Birdwatch, running from 20 Jan -14

Feb 2014.

The survey, which has been taking place for more than a decade, encourages schoolchildren of all ages, and their teachers, to discover which birds they share their school grounds with and learn about their behaviour. Each school s findings help the RSPB s experts to build a picture of birds visiting schools and monitor any changes in population. The results also contribute to the conservation charity' s Big Garden Birdwatch, which is the world s biggest wildlife survey.

Last year, participants in the Big Schools  Birdwatch discovered that for the fifth year running, the blackbird is the most commonly seen bird in school grounds with 89% of schools seeing an average of six . 

The starling took the second spot, with more than 40% of schools seeing an average of 4.2. 

And the black-headed gull came third, knocking the woodpigeon off that spot from last year.

Carol Bamber, RSPB Education Officer in Northern England, said:  For four weeks this winter, schoolchildren are encouraged to stare out of the classroom window for a good reason; to take part in the RSPB s Big Schools  Birdwatch.

 By keeping a look out and making a note of the different kinds of birds which visit their school grounds, children will discover much more about the wildlife on their school doorstep and become excited about the world around them.

They' ll not only improve their observation skills and enjoy a great learning experience, but the children will also be encouraged to want to help to give nature a home, which is fantastic.

There s still time for schools to sign up to take part in the Birdwatch. Teachers, helpers or children don t need to be experts to take part in the survey. Everything a teacher would need to plan a fantastic Birdwatch, and develop their children s knowledge and interest in the birds they see everyday, is available to download,

including guidance notes, recipes, things to make and counting charts.  Carol added:  There's plenty of flexibility for schools to run the survey as simply as they would like, or as the centrepiece of cross-curricular studies, project work or as part of work to improve their school grounds.

 It s fun, easy and simple to set up, it works for all ages, and even if it s a dull, rainy January day you can still gaze out of classroom and see a flash of colour. We hope as many schools as possible in Tyne and Wear will take part in this great event.

The RSPB has also introduced the Little Schools  Birdwatch, designed for 5s and under, and the Really Big Schools  Birdwatch, for 11-14 year olds.

For further information and to get hold of a free Big Schools , Little Schools  or Really Big Schools  Birdwatch teachers  pack, visit rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch

The Big, Little and Really Big Schools  Birdwatches are part of the world s biggest birdwatching event; the RSPB s Big Garden Birdwatch, which takes place over the weekend of 25/26 January 2014.