Deadline looms for Big Schools Birdwatch

Those of us who took part in the Big Garden Birdwatch will have submitted our results by now (quick, do so here if you haven’t yet!)

But alongside the Big Garden Birdwatch, education establishments up and down the country have been counting the birds from their playgrounds and sports pitches, for the Big Schools Birdwatch. Here’s how it’s done.

If you’re a teacher or parent attached to a school that hasn’t joined in the fun yet, there’s still time to do so. 

Get your school involved! (Photo: Eleanor Bentall, rspb-images.com)

The Big Schools’ Birdwatch helps provide important information about UK birds, and there are plenty of activities, resources and support on offer, from Early Years to 14-year-olds. Here’s just some of the things your class can do to get involved. 

• Create edible artwork or crumble pastry maggots to attract birds to the school grounds

• Make Twirlywoos binoculars (Early Years)

• Be a wildlife detective on a secret mission

• Build homes for nature in the school grounds

There’s plenty more, besides. But at the heart of all of this is the bird count itself. A selection of identification sheets will help kids identify the different birds as they move around the school grounds. When you’ve all counted the different birds, your class will have learned about local wildlife, and their results will help the RSPB build a picture of how British birds are faring, and how best to help them. 

Watch the video to see how it’s done… then Submit your results before 23 February to be part of the nation’s biggest citizen science project!

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