THE RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch takes place this weekend, bringing more than half a million people together in helping to create an annual snapshot of how birds are doing across Britain and the north – simply by spending an hour in the garden.
The event gives people of all ages the chance to count the number of birds that visit their garden to help the RSPB build up a picture of how birds are faring.
Last year close to half a million people across the UK took part, making Big Garden Birdwatch the world’s biggest wildlife survey. More than 17,000 people in Northern Ireland counted almost 130,000 birds last year, with starlings topping the list – followed by house sparrows, chaffinches, blue tits and blackbirds.
This year the RSPB is curious to see how these figures will change following a positive year for some of our resident birds.
Numbers of greenfinches have been impacted by Trichomonosis for the last decade and the disease has been documented in other garden birds, such as chaffinches. More recently there was a downward trend in Big Garden Birdwatch sightings of the tit species.
However, the 2017 season appeared to be a good one for some resident birds and that combined with the relatively favourable winter weather conditions has fuelled speculation that it could be a bumper weekend of sightings.
The RSPB is also asking about the other wildlife seen in our gardens over the last year, such as badgers, foxes, squirrels and frogs.
To take part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2018, simply spend an hour over the weekend watching the birds in your garden, outdoor space or local park. Once you have recorded the birds that make a visit, submit your results online at rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.
Joanne Sherwood, RSPB NI Director, said: "The Big Garden Birdwatch is all about enjoying the wildlife that comes to you and it’s really as simple as spending an hour looking out the window.
"At the end of your hour, send us your results to tell us what you saw. This helps us get a picture of bird numbers across Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.”
:: January 27-29; see rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
