Richmond

As individuals or small groups, spend an hour this weekend (Friday-Sunday) counting the birds that land in your garden/balcony/park, then submit your results to the RSPB. This task is listed for midday on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but you can choose when you do it, please send a photo if you can!

The idea is that you sit and watch your garden or local green space and tally up how many birds you see. They only count if they land, not fly overhead and you only count the largest group you see at any one time (to make sure you aren't counting the same individuals several times!) For example, if you see a group of eight Starlings but then towards the end of your hour you see six together, record ‘8’ as your final Starling count.

This information will give the RSPB an idea of bird populations and which ones may be struggling and need support. Watchers have until Feb 18th to submit results, so there's no need to do it right away.

Here is some info from organisers the RSPB:

"Across the UK, over half a million people took part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2023, counting a whopping 9.1 million birds! House Sparrows took the top spot, but counts of these chirpy birds are down by 57% compared to the first Birdwatch in 1979. In fact, we’ve lost 38 million birds from UK skies in the last 60 years. With birds facing so many challenges, it’s more important than ever to get involved in the Birdwatch. Every bird you do – or don’t – count will give us a valuable insight into how garden birds are faring. "

HOW TO TAKE PART

1) Count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony or in your local park for one hour between 24th and 26th January 2025.

2) Only include birds that land, not those flying over. Use this link (register for free), to find a useful guide of the different birds you might see https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch

3) Submit your results online. Whatever you saw - even if nothing at all - please upload. The more results submitted, the better the picture we will be of how garden birds are faring. If you are unable to submit your results online, complete and return the form to FREEPOST RSPB BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH by 18th February 2025.

https://forms.gle/HHv9mrNNQrWWwGPaA