Our annual Big Garden Birdwatch is approaching and this year, for the first time ever, it runs over three days instead of the usual two.

We’re anticipating a bumper year of both birds and participants, so please do register before 23 January so we can ensure you receive your participation pack in the post in time for your survey over 28, 29 or 30 January.

Don’t worry if you miss the registration deadline, you can still take part. There are identification sheets available to download from our webpages or just record your sightings then submit them online or via our FREEPOST address:

FREEPOST RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch,

10 Pond Wood Road,

Moulton Park,

Northampton

NN3 6DF

 

The Big Garden Birdwatch is important because it is the only survey of birds in private gardens, giving a unique insight into the numbers and variety of birds sharing our lives. We can compare results with those from previous years to reveal long term changes and, for conservationists, this is the really important bit. The population changes reflect the state of our environment; caused by things like climate change, land management changes or evolving species behaviour.

Participation Packs include: an identification sheet; a pack of sustainable coffee along with a coaster; a year planner; recipes to make a tasty treat for you and another for the birds in your garden; there’s also a £5 Off voucher to spend in our reserve shops or online shop.

Big Garden Birdwatch pack contents

Members of our Medway Local Group are at Homebase in Sittingbourne, Kent, this coming Sunday, 15 January, to get you ready for the Big Garden Birdwatch and to share their enthusiasm for giving nature a home. Pop by between 10 and 4pm to say hi and find out more.

Our Rainham Marshes and Pulborough Brooks nature reserves both have Big Garden Birdwatch events planned for the following weekend (21 & 22 Jan). They will have activities to help you prepare to count the nature that counts on us for its survival in the cold winter months.

Also on Sunday 22 January, visitors to the National Trust’s Morden Hall Park near Mitcham in South London will be invited to Go Wild with bird related activities and information on taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch.

We'd like to hear from you about your Big Garden Birdwatch. You can share your experiences and images using the hashtag #BigGardenBirdwatch on our Facebook and Twitter accounts:

twitter.com/rspb_southeast

twitter.com/rspburban

facebook.com/RSPBSouthEast

facebook.com/RSPBUrban