Sunday 18 January 2015

Big Garden Birdwatch 2015

Next weekend is the Big Garden Birdwatch where the RSPB ask us to count the number of birds and other wildlife in our garden. The results help to give a snapshot of our garden bird population and shows which species are thriving and which are in decline. The more people take part, the more that can be learned.

All you have to do is spend an hour of your choice counting the birds in your garden. How easy is that.


If you register before the day, you will be sent an information pack and a £5 discount off your next RSPB purchase. I shall be using mine to stock up on bird treats to entice lots of our feathered friends to visit my garden. On the day, you spend an hour counting the birds in your garden, or nearby green space. Afterwards, you can submit your results live from your device, or by mail if you'd rather fill in a paper form.

I've marked the 24-25 January 2015 in my diary so that I don't forget. Have you?

32 comments:

  1. Thanks for the reminder and, as usual, I'm looking forward to doing it. Flighty xx

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    1. There should be plenty of birds to count if this cold weather continues.

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  2. I haven't registered yet but I will be. Really enjoyed doing it last year.

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    1. I wonder if Ptolemy will put in an appearance.

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  3. I knew the dates but thanks for reminding me to register. We have a great assortment of birds, but they play games with me when it's time to count them!

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    1. I think it's the same with us all, full gardens until the hour we decide upon. It's as if they know we're waiting to count them.

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  4. I haven't registered yet but I will shortly, I enjoy taking part each year as do Mike & Harry.

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    1. I always employ a helper as it can be quite hard to keep your eye on each individual bird and not count them twice.

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  5. I've registered but downloaded my info and to receive the £5 discount you just have to print off the email or quite the voucher code.

    We have specific times when the birds arrive in larger numbers so will be counting them then. What's the betting that the birds all lie low during counting - they usually seem to.

    I think more people decide ti put food out then and the birds being opportunist decide to grab that food whilst they can as they know our food will still be there later!

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    1. I think you're on to something there. I've had blue tits, sparrows, greenfinches, goldfinches, chaffinches, starlings, a couple of collared doves, a robin and a blackbird in the garden today but I bet I don't get that variety on the day.

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  6. Hi Jo....great pot for the RSPB Count.

    I have been doing it for many years, and it is something I really look forward to,
    I keep a record each year for myself......good to see the changes.

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    1. It's a good idea to keep your own records, something I must admit that I haven't done myself, I wish I had now.

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  7. We are looking forward to it!

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    1. It's an event which all the family can take part in. I usually have someone helping me as I'm not quick enough to count them all myself.

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  8. No doubt we'll be doing this again this year, thanks for the reminder.

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    1. I don't think your eldest would let you forget.

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  9. I've registered after reading your reminder. This will be my second year of doing the Bird Watch.

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    1. I hope you enjoy doing it. I think it's fun to see how many birds visit the garden within the timespan of an hour, though I always find that I'd have a better tally if I'd chosen a different time to count.

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  10. I'm banking on Mrs blackbird turning up next week to get the count started. On a normal day it's amazing how many different birds arrive for some free food - but next weekend will be different.

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    1. I'm sure Mrs Blackbird will be waiting for her breakfast as usual, but you're right, it's always different when you're counting them.

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  11. Aha, thanks for the reminder. It's going on the calendar for Saturday morning. I hope my woodpecker shows up... have to put out some more monkey nuts for him!

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    1. How lovely to have a visiting woodpecker, I hope he turns up on Saturday morning.

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  12. I always do the bird count too, funnily enough it's as though the birds know as they all seem to do a vanishing act!xxx

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    1. I think it's the same for most of us. Perhaps if this cold weather continues they'll be only too glad to visit for some treats.

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  13. We were talking about this at lunch today and I was reckoning on the list being pigeon, pigeon, blackbird, pigeon! I don't suppose that any of the exciting birds will make an appearance. I hope that you get some good ones and that the birds appreciate the food you will get them! xx

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    1. I'd just be happy for a bit of variety. In previous years there's been the odd sparrow and not much else, though I usually have many more species visiting.

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  14. I always enjoy doing this, apart from helping the RSPB Its also a recent to sit and watch and not do anything else for an hour!

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    1. That's true. I enjoy watching the birds, it's like a mini soap opera out there.

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  15. We have lots of birds visiting our garden as we leave a good variety of food for them. They are so lovely to watch.

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    1. I think the secret to getting different species visiting is to leave different types of food out in a variety of feeders. I put out mixed seed, sunflower hearts, black sunflower seeds, niger seed and suet blocks as well as suet pellets. It's fun seeing which birds visit.

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  16. I just wish I could manage to take some good photos of the birds!

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    1. I'm exactly the same, they just don't stay still long enough.

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