Ready for Big Garden Birdwatch?

It's time to get ready for RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2019. www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/

Big Garden Birdwatch is the world's largest garden wildlife survey.
The Big Garden Birdwatch takes place at the end of January each year (26-28th January 2019). It takes place over three days, so if you're busy over the weekend or perhaps the weather's bad, you have the option of a third day

How to take part Joining in with Big Garden Birdwatch is simple and enjoyable – and a great excuse to watch your garden birds.

Choose a good place to watch from for an hour between 26-28th January 2019. Which window gives you the best view? Make sure it's comfy and you have the essentials within easy reach – a nice, hot drink and your favourite biscuits – and somewhere to jot down what you see. On the RHS website they've got a nifty counting tool to help you keep track of what you've seen.
If you haven't got a garden that's no problem. Just pop down to your local park or green space and join in there.

Relax and watch the birds for an hour.

Count the maximum number of each species you see at any one time. For example, if you see a group of three house sparrows together and later another two, and after that another one, the number to submit is three. That way, it's less likely you'll double-count the same birds.

Go back to the Big Garden Birdwatch page and tell them what you've seen. Even if you didn't see anything, let them know, it's still really useful information.

What about other wildlife?

The threats to our wildlife means that it's not just birds facing tough times... it's our badgers, snakes and other animals too. So to help them get a more complete picture of the state of our wildlife, in 2014 they started to ask you to tell them about some of the other animals in your gardens.