1 million take part in record-breaking RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

Top Bird House Sparrow

Over a million people across the UK spent an hour watching the birds that visit their garden or outdoor space, double last year’s participation numbers The Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest wildlife survey and gives RSPB scientists insights into how our garden birds are faring both across the country and here in Merseyside. Many people sought solace in the wildlife in their local area during the worst crisis this country has faced since WW2 The number of nature lovers who took part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch soared to a million people this winter after a year of lockdown restrictions saw people turn to nature for comfort. 

Now in its 42nd year, the Big Garden Birdwatch is a chance for people of all ages to count the number of birds that visit their garden, helping the RSPB build up a picture of how birds are faring. This year, over a million people across the country took part counting 17 million birds, with over 13,000 people taking part across Merseyside. Hopes were raised for a bumper participation year after results from a YouGov survey revealed the pandemic is making the public more aware of nature in their local area, with 41% seeing wildlife near their homes over the last 12 months that they had never noticed before. The YouGov survey of 2,071 adults across the UK revealed 63% of people said watching the birds and hearing their song added to their enjoyment of life since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than half of those surveyed (51%) believing the pandemic has made them more aware of the nature around them.

 When the final Big Garden Birdwatch results were counted, the RSPB was blown away by the phenomenal response from the public. Over the first three days of submissions alone, numbers were up 85% compared to the same time period in 2020. Beccy Speight, RSPB CEO said: “We have been blown away by the enthusiasm with which people have taken part in the Birdwatch this year. Lockdowns have brought few benefits, but the last year has either started or reignited a love of nature for many people, right on their doorsteps. “This winter has been a bleak ordeal but as the dawn chorus starts to burst into song and the blossom starts to flower from the trees once more, we are emerging from this pandemic a new generation of nature lovers. “We hope the Birdwatch has kindled a new passion for wildlife for the thousands who took part for the first time this year – we need every voice raised to stand up for nature. The wildlife that gave us so much interest and solace is now just a fraction of what should be there.

On the back of this wave of public support, we need the government to take the global leadership, policy and legislative opportunities open to it this year to reverse the decline and restore nature now.” The charity is also urging members of the public to take care as they return to the countryside near them as nature’s busiest season is underway. As breeding season begins, birds and other wildlife could be nesting nearby, with over half of England’s most threatened breeding birds nesting on or near the ground. To be sure to help the wildlife near you this spring, be sure to follow the Countryside Code when exploring your local area. 

Male Starling Nester

The Big Garden Birdwatch, which was held over the last weekend in January, revealed that nationally the house sparrow held on to its number one spot, but 16 out of the top 20 bird species showed declines in average counts compared to last year. Starlings slid down the ranking from 2nd place for the first time since 2010, with numbers down 83% since 1979. Further national declines were recorded for greenfinch and chaffinch, with the lowest average for both types of bird ever recorded during the Big Garden Birdwatch.

 

Fighting Cock Robins

Only robins, blackbirds, carrion crows and the song thrush saw an increase on 2020 across the UK. Over its four decades, Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world. It was first to alert the RSPB to the decline in song thrush numbers, which are still down 78% compared to the first Big Garden Birdwatch in 1979. This species was a firm fixture in the top 10 in 1979. By 2009, its numbers were less than half those recorded in 1979, it came in at 20th in the rankings this year, seen in just 9% of gardens.

Big Garden Birdwatch Results 2021

The house sparrow remained at the top of the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings in Merseyside as the most commonly seen garden bird. Found in nearly 54% of Merseyside gardens, across the country more than 2.6 million house sparrows were sighted throughout the weekend. Meanwhile, the starling and blackbird joined house sparrows to form the top three most sighted birds in Merseyside as local people enjoyed watching the wildlife found in their gardens. Beccy added: “One way you can help revive our world is to bring nature to you. Your garden, balcony, and even windowsill are potential havens for wildlife, and in April we’re launching a digital platform, Nature on Your Doorstep, to help show you how.”

Female Blackbird

Throughout the first half of the spring term the nation’s school children took part in the RSPB’s Big Schools Birdwatch. The UK-wide survey of birds in school grounds saw over 21,000 school children and their teachers spend an hour in nature counting the birds. Woodpigeon was the most numerous species seen with an average of 9 per school; and was seen in 85% of all schools that took part. Blackbird was a close second with an average of 8 per school.

Wood Pigeon

 For a full round-up of all the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

results and to see which birds were visiting gardens where you live, visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch Discover more about the RSPB’s exciting new Nature on Your Doorstep resources here: www.rspb.org.uk/yourdoorstep

Record you garden birds all year long with the BTO       https://bto.org/our-science/projects/gbw  

And if you have nesting birds -   https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/gns/about/nesting-neighbours

Celebrating 40 years of counting garden birds in Merseyside

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch is 40! (26-28 January 2019)

·         The RSPB is celebrating 40 years of its’ famous Big Garden Birdwatch.

·        Over 8 million hours have been spent watching garden birds since the Birdwatch began in 1979 with more than 130 million birds counted.

·    To mark the event, the RSPB is asking participants in Merseyside ‘How will you #BigGardenBirdWatch?’ and to share their stories of how they take part.

·         Events are taking place in Merseyside to help celebrate.

The RSPB is eagerly anticipating who will be top of the pecking order for a very special anniversary of its’ world famous Big Garden Birdwatch in January.

Just one hour every year, for the last 40 years, has made the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch the largest garden wildlife citizen science project. During that time, hundreds of thousands of people, including those across Merseyside, have volunteered their time providing the RSPB with over 8 million hours of monitoring garden birds.

To mark the event, the RSPB is encouraging participants in the county to share their Big Garden Birdwatch stories on social media. ‘How will you #BigGardenBirdWatch?’ will showcase some of the best examples of how people take part, from building their own birdwatching den, baking birdseed cakes and dressing up as Batman to see Robin.

This year’s Big Garden Birdwatch takes place on 26, 27 and 28 January 2019. The public is asked to spend just one hour watching and recording the birds in their garden or local green space, then send their results to the RSPB. Close to half-a-million people join in the Birdwatch every year, with over 6,000 across Merseyside taking part in 2018.

To help prepare for Big Garden Birdwatch 2019, there are events on offer across Merseyside this January – from discovering how to attract more wildlife into your garden to gaining tips on how to identify the creatures that live on your doorstep:

‘Get Ready for the Big Garden Birdwatch’ will be held at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands nature reserve near Neston on Sunday 20 January. Drop-in from 1-3pm to make bird feeders, and the knowledgeable team will also be on hand to assist with garden bird identification to help you prepare for the birdwatch. Cost £2 per feeder, normal entry fees apply to non-members visiting the reserve (RSPB members free), no booking needed.

A ‘Big Garden Birdwatch quiz trail’ will also be taking place at Burton Mere Wetlands throughout the month. Families are encouraged to take part in this self-led activity to discover more about garden birds and how to take part in the Birdwatch. Cost £1 per quiz sheet, normal entry fees apply to non-members visiting the reserve (RSPB members free), no booking needed. More details for both can be found at rspb.org.uk/burtonmerewetlands

Meet the RSPB Liverpool Local Group in the Palm House at Sefton Park, Liverpool on Sunday 20 January. Volunteers will be on hand from 12-4pm with information about taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch, assisting with bird identification and advising on how to attract garden wildlife.

Over the last 40 years, 130 million birds have been counted giving the RSPB an astonishing amount of insight into how our wildlife is faring.

For four decades, Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world. It was first to alert the RSPB to the decline in song thrush numbers. The song thrush was a firm fixture in the top 10 in 1979. By 2009, its numbers were less than half those recorded in 1979, plummeting to 20^th in the rankings.

Mike Clarke, RSPB Chief Executive, said: “Everyone has a role to play in saving nature and protecting our wildlife. Big Garden Birdwatch participants have made a significant contribution to monitoring garden bird numbers over the past four decades. Those taking part work together as part of a community with thousands of other Big Garden Birdwatchers, to help the RSPB’s work to protect birds, other wildlife and the places they live.

“Reaching 40 years is a huge achievement and shows just how passionate people across the UK are about their wildlife.  The survey started as a winter activity for our youth members. It’s now the largest garden wildlife survey in the world and appeals to both children and adults because it’s an enjoyable, easy, inclusive activity that anyone can do, and a great opportunity to connect with nature.”

The survey has also shown the increases in collared dove and woodpigeon numbers and the alarming declines of the house sparrow and starling. While the overall decline in house sparrow numbers, reported by participants, since the Big Garden Birdwatch began is 57% (1979 – 2018), in the most recent decade (2009-2018) numbers appear to have increased by 17%.

As well as counting birds, the RSPB is once again asking participants to log some of the other wildlife they have seen throughout the year. This year, people are being asked to look out for badgers, foxes, grey squirrels, red squirrels, muntjac deer, roe deer, frogs and toads.

To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2019, watch the birds in your garden or local park for one hour at some point over the three days. Only count the birds that land, not those flying over. Send the RSPB the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour.

For a FREE 40^th anniversary Big Garden Birdwatch pack, which includes a bird identification chart, plus RSPB shop voucher and advice to help attract wildlife to your garden, text BIRD to 70030 or visit rspb.org.uk/birdwatch  

The parallel event, RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch takes place during the first half of spring term (2 January – 22 February 2019). More than 60,000 schoolchildren, including over 670 in Merseyside, spent an hour in nature counting birds in 2018. Further information can be found at rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch

 Big Garden Birdwatch results: Comparison of what was in the top 10 in 1979 vs 2018.

           Long term trends – % change trends back to 1979 only available for 10 species and    from 1999 to 2018 for 15 species.

3.    While the overall decline in house sparrow numbers, reported by participants, since the BGBW began is 57% (1979 – 2018), in the most recent decade (2009-2018) numbers appear to have increased by 17%. This is reflected in more standardised national monitoring programmes (eg: BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey).

   The top 10 birds in 2018 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch for Merseyside: 

5.     In 2014, as a new part of Big Garden Birdwatch, the RSPB asked participants to tell us about some of the other animals in their garden. This year we’re asking people to look for: badger, fox, grey squirrel, red squirrel, muntjac deer, roe deer, frog and toad. We’d like to know if any have visited their garden or local park in the last year and, if so, how often.

6.     

OUR MINI 'RSPB BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH' COUNT 2018

Once again we have undertaken a mini Merseyside birdwatch count:- 18 households across Merseyside, Rainford and Newton sent in their counts, which you can see in the table below. 

This year I’m pleased to say most people were happy with their counts with only a few describing their results and experiences as - disappointing with favourite birds arriving late. The response from the RSPB to ‘bad’ years was to extend the count to three days, perhaps it did the trick? 

SPECIES		No’s of gardens seen in	TOTAL No’s of birds seen	RANK By no’s seen	RANK  By gardens found in	Red Amber Green
1	BLACKBIRD	16	36	4	1st
2	WREN	5	5	15	8
3	BLUE TIT	15	29	5	2j
4	GREAT TIT	12	21	8	4
5	COAL TIT	5	7	14	8
6	LONG TAILED TIT	5	11	13	8
7	ROBIN	15	20	9j	2j
8	BLACKCAP	2	4	16	11j
9	STARLING	9	44	3	6	R
10	DUNNOCK	10	15	11	5j	A
11	HOUSE SPARROW	10	60	2	5j	R
12	FERAL PIGEON	8	26	7	7
13	WOOD PIGEON	13	20	9j	3
14	COLLARED DOVE	10	17	10j	5j
15	GOLDFINCH	9	97	1st	6
16	CHAFFINCH	10	28	6	5j
17	GREENFINCH	4	17	10j	9
18	JAY	1	1	19j	12
19	JACKDAW	2	3	17j	11
20	MAGPIE	10	14	12	5j
21	CROW	3	3	17j	10j
22	GOLDCREST	3	3	17j	10j
23	NUTHATCH	2	2	18j	11
24	SONG THRUSH	1	1	19j	12j	R
25	GREY WAGTAIL	3	4	16j	10j	R
26	SPARROWHAWK	2	2	18j	11j
27	GREY HERON	1	1	19j	12j
28	LESSER REDPOLL	1	1	19j	12j	R
29	PHEASANT	1	1	19j	12j
30	MISTLE THRUSH	1	2	18j	12j	R

GREY SQUIRRELS  2 households, 4 individuals  HEDGEHOGS  0 households,  0 individuals

RED, AMBER GREEN https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-guide/redliststory.aspx

Last year’s results:  http://liverpoolrspb.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/big-garden-birdwatch-2017-event.html

For those of you who have enjoyed taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch and would like to record more, please consider joining the BTO Garden BirdWatch , this will involve you recording your birds every week and uploading them to the BTO website. The count includes other nature sightings such as insects & mammals and also records the type of food you put out, more recently they have included your sightings of diseased & dead specimens.

 http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw

Many thanks to all those who took part in our little survey, I hope you find it of interest. Please free to add your comments and observations, on our blog.