What is Big Garden Birdwatch?

Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey.  Every year, hundreds of thousands of nature lovers take part, helping to build a picture of how garden birds are getting on.

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

It’s so easy to be part of Big Garden Birdwatch.  Simply choose an hour between 26 and 28 January and count the birds you see in your garden, balcony, or in your local park.    Only count birds that land. Then tell us what you saw.  Even if you saw nothing, it still counts.  Your results can be entered at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.  Please do this before 18th February.

For further information or to download a guide, visit rspb.org.uk.