We interviewed RSPB conservational scientist, Andy Stanbury to give us the inside scoop on your most burning Big Schools' Birdwatch data-related questions.
You can send your Big Schools' Birdwatch 2024 results until the 19th February [2024]. To take part visit www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch to register your class. Together, let's make it count!
Both the Big Schools’ Birdwatch and the Big Garden Birdwatch provides the RSPB with an annual winter snapshot and is one of the first indicators to show how well UK garden birds have fared during the previous breeding season and winter. The big strength of the surveys is the simple consistent method that has been used since the start of the survey. The huge participation allows us to produce results at a smaller scale than other surveys, down to the individual county and even some towns and city level. It also helps to raise awareness about long-term declines in species of conservation concern.
Sixty-three species of bird were recorded during Big Schools’ Birdwatch last year. These included many uncommon species, such as 250 Ring-necked Parakeets, 184 Red Kites, 10 Green Woodpeckers and even one Waxwing. You never know what is out there to be recorded.
Firstly, there are resources in your Big Schools’ Birdwatch pack to help identify the birds you see. The Big Schools’ Birdwatch submission page on the RSPB website also have pictures of the most frequently seen birds to help with this. Our scientists then review the submitted data before the number crunching begins which helps correct for errors.
Yes, there are lots of regional differences in the birds recorded during Big Schools’ Birdwatch, for example, Ring-necked Parakeets are concentrated in south-east England. Most crows in Northern Ireland are Hooded Crow, while those in England and Wales as Carrion Crows. Green Woodpecker and Nuthatch are absent from Northern Ireland and most of Scotland, but widespread further south.
The Big Schools’ Birdwatch and the Big Garden Birdwatch results report on average species counts per survey, their ranked position, and the proportion of surveys each species is recorded. Emphasis is then given to changes relating to the top 10 or 20 most common species. The results have highlighted many winners and losers over recent decades. Starling, House Sparrow, Song Thrush, Greenfinch and Chaffinch all show declines; while Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove and Magpie have all increased.