Big Garden Birdwatch
The world’s largest garden wildlife survey returns, with hundreds of thousands of people watching and counting the UK’s garden birds in January. Photography: RSPB Images
Over the last weekend in January the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch returns! In 2024 over 600,000 people took part, counting more than 9.7 million birds and over 12,845 of those passionate counters were here in Lancashire.
For this year’s event on 24th, 25th and 26th January, people are asked to spend an hour watching and counting the birds in their garden or local park, or from their balcony, then send their results to the RSPB.
The Birdwatch, which started in 1979, has become a much-loved annual citizen science event that gives the RSPB a valuable snapshot of how our garden birds are doing in the UK. Over that time, more than 195 million birds have been counted and over 12.1 million hours spent watching and counting garden birds.
Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s Chief Executive, said: “At its heart, Big Garden Birdwatch is an opportunity for people to spend an hour watching, enjoying and connecting with the wildlife on their doorstep. From chirpy house sparrows to acrobatic blue tits, the entertaining antics of our garden birds can brighten even the dullest day and bring a welcome dose of nature into our everyday lives.
“By taking part in the Birdwatch, you and hundreds of thousands of other nature lovers across the UK, play an important role in helping us understand how garden birds are doing. With the nature and climate emergency threatening even our most familiar birds, every count matters. It’s good for wildlife and evidence shows it’s good for our own wellbeing.”
Last year’s UK-wide Big Garden Birdwatch results revealed that the house sparrow held on to the top spot for another year, with the blue tit riding high at number two and the starling coming in at number three. The wood pigeon and blackbird made up the remainder of the top five most recorded species.
Although 1.4 million house sparrows were spotted across the January weekend last year, they have sadly suffered severe declines. The average number spotted in gardens, parks and community spaces has dropped 60 per cent since the first Big Garden Birdwatch in 1979.
Over its four decades, Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world. The blue tit and great tit, much-loved garden species, have seen their average numbers rise by 24 per cent and 61 per cent respectively. While species such as the starling, currently at number two in the Big Garden Birdwatch charts, has seen its numbers drop by more than 80 per cent since 1979.
To receive your free Big Garden Birdwatch guide, which includes a bird identification chart, top tips for your Birdwatch, RSPB shop voucher, plus advice on how to help you attract wildlife to your garden, text BIRD to 82727, or go to: rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
