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| House Sparrows came top in Merseyside and Nationally 2017 L Bimson |
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2018
Half a million people are expected to watch and count their
garden birds for the 2018 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch in January.
The world’s largest garden
wildlife survey, now in its 39th year, takes place on 27, 28 and 29 January
2018. The
public are 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 joined in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey
in 2017 counting more than eight million birds and providing valuable information about
the wildlife using our gardens in winter. The house sparrow remained top of the Big Garden
Birdwatch rankings, with starling and blackbird rounding off the top three.
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| Waxwing in Aigburth Liverpool L Bimson |
Last year’s Big Garden Birdwatch
also revealed an explosion in the number of
recorded sightings of waxwings. These attractive looking birds flock to UK
gardens in winter once every 7-8 years when the berry crop fails in their
native Scandinavia. Known as an ‘irruption’, results showed that waxwings were
seen in around 11 times more gardens in 2017 compared to the last couple of
years, with sightings as far west as Wales and Northern Ireland.
Daniel
Hayhow, RSPB Conservation Scientist said: “The birds we see in our
garden are often the first experience we have with nature – whether it’s a
flock of starlings at the feeder, a robin perched on the fence or some house
sparrows splashing in the bird bath. But it may come as a surprise to know that
some of our most-loved species are in desperate need of our help as their
numbers have dropped dramatically.
“The Big Garden Birdwatch is a great opportunity to
get involved with helping our garden wildlife. By counting the birds that visit
your outdoor space, you’ll be joining a team of over half-a-million people
across the UK who are making a difference for nature. It only takes an hour so
grab a cuppa, sit back and see who makes a flying visit to your garden.”
Species such as starlings
and greenfinches have seen their numbers visiting gardens decline by 79 and 59
per cent retrospectively since the first Birdwatch in 1979.
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| Robin in Winter L Bimson |
But it wasn’t all bad news. There was good news for robins in last
year’s survey, with the average number seen visiting gardens at its highest
level since 1986, helping it climb two places to number seven, its joint
highest-ever position in the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings.
Daniel
added: “With over half a million people now regularly taking part, coupled with
nearly 40 years worth of data, Big Garden Birdwatch allows us to monitor trends
and helps us understand how birds are doing. With results from so many gardens, we are able to create a 'snapshot' of
the birds visiting at this time of year across the UK. Even if you see nothing during
your Big Garden Birdwatch hour, that’s important information too, so please let
us know.”
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| Grey Squirrel eating sunflower seeds L Bimson |
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 badger, fox, grey
squirrel, red squirrel, muntjac deer, roe deer, frog and toad.
To take part in
the Big Garden Birdwatch 2018, participants should watch the birds in the
garden or local park for one hour at some point over the three days. Only the
birds that land in the garden or local park should be counted, not those flying
over. The highest number of each bird species seen at any one time then needs
to be sent to the RSPB.
The
parallel event, Big Schools’ Birdwatch takes place during the first half of spring
term next year, 2 January-23 February 2018. Further information can be found at
rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch
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| Hedgehog tunnel in fence L Bimson |
Big Garden Birdwatch and Big Schools’ Birdwatch are part of the RSPB
Giving Nature a Home campaign, aimed at tackling the house crisis facing the
UK’s threatened wildlife. The charity is asking people to provide a place for wildlife
in their gardens or outdoor spaces – whether it’s putting up a nest box for
birds, creating a pond for frogs or building a home for hedgehogs.
For your free Big Garden
Birdwatch pack, which includes a bird identification chart, plus RSPB shop
voucher and advice to help you attract wildlife to your garden, text BIRD to
70030 or visit rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
Registration for Big Garden Birdwatch 2018 opens 13 December 2017.
