Big Garden Birdwatch 26-28th January 2024
I enjoy watching birds in my garden, though I no longer use bird feeders. Instead I try to use natural planting to encourage them in, since birds range across whole neighbourhoods. Some eat insects, others seeds or some my precious seedlings!
A single blue tit chick can munch 100 caterpillars a day so I avoid spraying insecticide or pesticides. Although it looks a little untidy, I don't pick up the fallen leaves from the borders, leaving dropped fruit for the blackbirds or seed heads for the goldfinches. I do leave out a shallow bowl of water for them to bathe or drink from.
What is Big Garden Birdwatch?
Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. In the last 60 years 38 million birds have been lost from UK skies. Compiled by the RSPB, it's easy to join in.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch
- Get your free guide and stock up on supplies.
- Spend an hour watching the birds in your patch, between 26 and 28 January, and record the birds that land.
- Only record the birds that land in your patch during that hour.
- Record the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time.
- You can submit your results online or by post.