The Big Garden Birdwatch

Ever since I was 7 years old I have been taking part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch.  Now 17 years down the line, 1 hour spent watching my garden birds remains one of the best ways to spend an hour of my day!  Put the kettle, sit down with a cuppa, and take part in the world’s biggest citizen science event!

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Chaffinch
(Fringilla coelebs)

My list for 2015 includes the following:

  • Blackbird x5
  • Blue Tit x8
  • Chaffinch x1
  • Coal Tit x2
  • Collared Dove x3
  • Dunnock x3
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker x1
  • Great Tit x4
  • Nuthatch x1
  • Robin x1
  • Woodpigeon x1

Like a lot of people, over the years there has been gains and losses!  These days we only get one pair of House Sparrows very occasionally visit the bird feeders, whereas it was only just over 7 years ago and I was watching flocks of 20-30+!  The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a very welcome edition however, with this striking bird turning up in the past five Big Garden Birdwatches.

Great Tit (Parus major)
Great Tit
(Parus major)

It is difficult to understand the many ways that an ever-expanding human population impacts wild places and their residents unless we actually count them in a regular and systematic way.  Such counts make it possible to capture a moment in time of what is happening to these animals’ populations, so that we can be alerted to problems before they become disasters!

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Exploring The Wild

We love to help share and create wildlife watching memories - raising awareness about how amazing nature is and how you can help conserve it. Exploring the wild places of the South-east and beyond!

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