With the dust settling on the New Year, we're looking forward to a very exciting 2014 at RSPB NI, starting with Big Garden Birdwatch.
Bird populations are a great indicator of the health of the countryside. That's why it's so important to take part in surveys like the Big Garden Birdwatch to keep an eye on the ups and downs of the wildlife where we live. The results of the survey help us spot trends and declines in bird populations all over the UK, so we want as many people to take part as possible. This year, for the first time, we're also asking you to look out for some non-bird species like hedgehogs and squirrels.
Last year, more than half a million people across the UK took part in Big Garden Birdwatch, with 10,000 of those coming from Northern Ireland. Will you join in this year?
All you need to do is spend an hour over the weekend of 25-26 January counting the birds in your garden. It's that simple!
The more people involved, the more we can learn. So, grab a cuppa spend some time counting the wildlife that's counting on you.
You can register online now at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch, and we'll send you a pack with all the info you need to get going!
Keep an eye on our Facebook page as well to find out about Big Garden Birdwatch events happening near you.