Grab a cuppa and start counting!

To read this blog in Welsh please click here.

This winter has been uncharacteristically warm; heaters have been turned down, any sign of frost has quickly turned to sleet and even snowdrops have made an early appearance by blooming in December.  However although the weather may be mild, our garden birds still need a helping hand to keep warm during these wet and windy months; and as we escape the downpour indoors, the RSPB is counting on you to provide us with important information about what’s living in your gardens, by taking part in the world’s biggest garden wildlife survey - all from the comforts of your own home.

More people than ever before are being called upon to take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, taking place on 30-31 January. Over 28,000 people took part in Wales last year. It’s an ideal opportunity to get the whole family involved, and it’s so easy! Simply put the kettle on, grab a biscuit and snuggle up together to count what you see in your garden. As well as counting our feathered friends, you can spot other wildlife which snuffles and settles in your home - such as the hedgehog, fox and slow worm. Whether you see a wealth of wildlife or nothing at all it doesn’t matter, as the RSPB would still like to hear from you. All this information helps to build a picture of how nature’s doing so that we can know how to help the wildlife which may be struggling.

Over the last year adverse weather conditions have affected us all, with the most recent floods sadly forcing people to evacuate their homes. Unfortunately, this change in climate has also affected the number of birds we see in our gardens. Last year’s Big Garden Birdwatch found a decline in the number of finches, coal-tits and collared doves in Wales, with the breeding populations of starlings also falling dramatically by more than two thirds.

Whilst putting out tasty treats for your birds is important, there are a number of other ways you can help. Birds need a wide range of plants to shelter and perch too, so they can make use of the feeders we provide in winter as well as the nectar-rich plants that attract insects in the summer. During this year’s birdwatch why not look at how the birds approach your feeders using the various trees, shrubs and bushes? Making your garden more nature-friendly is the best way you can help the birds and other wildlife that use it, and there are many simple things you can do to breathe new life into your garden. Visit our website for more ideas.

So, how about joining the other 28,000 people in Wales and count the wildlife that’s counting on you? You can register to take part and find more information at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.