This weekend sees the return of The Big Garden Birdwatch, one of Britain’s largest and most important wildlife surveys. Thousands of people will pick up their pens, have their paper ready and put an hour aside to record feathery sightings in their gardens and report their findings back to the RSPB. Will you be one of them?
Young and old alike can document their findings and it couldn’t be easier to do…just register your interest at Big Garden Birdwatch, grab a pencil and start counting. Your findings will help give this fantastic charity an extensive insight into the nature that surrounds us.
Help identify Britain’s Top Ten Garden Birds
The Big Garden Birdwatch takes just one hour of your time; just an hour to count and record the birds in your garden and report what you have seen, and here at Bents we’d like to encourage as many people as possible to get involved.
Your research doesn’t just help produce a list of Britain’s top ten garden birds, but it also helps the RSPB identify how bird populations have changed over the years. For example, whilst the house sparrow and blue tit reclaimed the top two spots, both species recorded a negative change in average since 2024. But robins, great tits, goldfinches and long tail tits all recorded a positive change in average.
Because bird populations respond to environmental changes, they are a great indicator of the health of our countryside so by taking part in this survey and reporting our findings we can help provide the first steps to finding solutions. And don’t forget…birds are also a great natural help in the garden, helping to keep control of pests such as slugs, snails and aphids, which is always a bonus for us garden enthusiasts!
How did it all Begin
Initially launched as a winter activity for junior members, the Big Garden Birdwatch has evolved into an annual event with over half a million participants. In 1979 the RSPB announced a new children’s initiative to help identify the UK’s top ten most common garden birds. It was soon picked up by the BBC’s Blue Peter and having featured on the programme the idea - which was initially expected to be an activity for a few hundred children – received over 34,000 forms in its first year.
Now the survey attracts over 1.2 million participants each year, who together count over 9 million bird sightings. It’s a fantastic initiative and one which couldn’t be easier to get involved with.
Attract the Birds
Bents has everything you need to help our feathered friends thrive and flourish. Bird Tables and Stations are made from the finest materials and our selection of nutritious, delicious bird food helps with their daily diet. But don’t forget…once birds discover new food supplies they will keep coming back, so don’t stop as they will quickly rely on what you put out. Keep food stations well stocked and maybe have a few positioned around the garden to see if they attract different varieties.
So what are you waiting for? Register now at Big Garden Birdwatch and enjoy spending an hour this weekend spotting the different types of birds who are visiting your garden. Good luck and happy counting!