Get your binoculars and clipboard at the ready – the Big Garden Birdwatch is back!

The Big Garden Birdwatch happens every year in January, and helps the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) track how birds are doing in the UK. The climate crisis has made conditions very hard for a lot of UK bird species, so it’s important for us to understand which birds are still around, and how many of them.

Everyone can take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch – you don’t even need to have a garden! All you need is a spare hour to sit back and take note of how many birds you see coming down to land. Once your hour is up, visit the RSPB website to let them know what you saw. Whether you take part from your garden, a balcony with a bird feeder, or from a bench in the park, your information is really valuable to the RSPB.

To make sure you get the most from your hour of birdwatching, be sure to prepare your patch in advance for any visitors. A topped up bird feeder and full bird bath will help bring birds into your space for you to count. The RSPB has lots of tips on how to attract birds for the birdwatch, and the rest of the year, on their website.

There are lots of different birds you might see during your birdwatching hour, from wood pigeons and robins, to the less common sparrows and starlings. So be sure to take a look at the different species you might see before your watch so you know what to write down!

The Big Garden Birdwatch is taking place this year from 27 to 29 January. For all the information you need to take part, and to sign up, visit the RSPB website. Happy watching!