The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch

Jan 24, 2012 by Admin

All eyes on the skies The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch (28-29 January 2012)

Londoners will be poised to watch their garden birds this coming weekend, for the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch (28-29 January).

The RSPB needs more Londoners than ever before to step up for nature to help us find out how the topsy turvey weather is affecting the fortunes of garden favourites, such as blue tits and goldfinches.

Sarah Houghton, RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Project Manager, says: “Taking part in Big Garden Birdwatch not only helps the RSPB track the ups and down of garden birds, it also provides the perfect excuse to sit down with a cuppa and enjoy the wildlife sharing our living space. By taking part, you’ll contribute to the biggest garden bird event in the world and you won’t even have to leave the warmth of your armchair!”

Last year, London recorded drops in numbers of house sparrows, starlings and blackbirds. Blue tits, goldfinches and greenfinches did well. Results from the 2012 survey will show whether these are continuing trends that set-off alarm bells or less alarming natural fluctuations.

RSPB London representative Tim Webb said: “The more people that step forward to help, the better. Annual results are interesting, but it’s the long-term trends that are important. Seeing how different species are faring over time gives us a snapshot of the state of London’s environment. Birds are amongst the first species to mirror environmental change. They’re an early warning system, tweeting a warning of barely perceptible changes in our climate or environment.”

Sarah Houghton says: “It’s important we keep a close eye on how our birds are faring, like the house sparrow for example. With so many people stepping up and taking part in Big Garden Birdwatch, if a pattern emerges, we take it seriously. Half a million people can’t be wrong and that’s why the survey is so important. As well as getting hundreds of thousands of people enjoying wildlife, it actually helps protect nature by showing the RSPB where we need to focus our efforts.”

Last year’s Big Garden Birdwatch results for London showed blue tit numbers rising above levels recorded in 2007. House sparrows, wood pigeons, starlings and blackbirds all fell compared with the previous year’s results.

Sightings of redwings and fieldfares have increased in the Capital over the past couple of years. These are traditionally birds of the countryside but have discovered urban gardens contain more freely available food when snow and ice locks away food supplies in areas beyond London’s warm mini-climate.

2011 was also notable for the thousands of people reporting waxwings. The UK saw an influx of the striking birds from Scandinavia; known as a ‘waxwing winter.’

Almost 90,000 schoolchildren and teachers stepped up and took part in the schools version of the survey last year, ‘Big Schools’ Birdwatch.’ The UK-wide survey of wildlife in schools, which celebrated its 10th birthday last year (2011), introduces thousands of children to the wildlife visiting their school environment.

To step up for nature and take part, simply spend one hour over the weekend of 28-29 January, counting the birds in your garden or local park, and record the highest number of each bird species seen at any one time.

Visit the RSPB website www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch for more information and to submit your results online. Pre-registration is now open and those pre-registering will get a 10% discount voucher for bird food and feeders from RSPB shops.

To request a Big Garden Birdwatch pack over the phone, please call 0300 456 8330.