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Jess B

Five facts you need to know about Big Garden Birdwatch

It’s getting closer to one of our favourite times of year: Big Garden Birdwatch! The 2018 survey is nearly upon us and many of you have already registered to take part. If you haven’t already you can do so here. We love hearing from you over the three days of Birdwatch about the feathered visitors you’ve recorded in your gardens. In the run up to the big event here’s some perhaps lesser known facts about Birdwatch for you.

1.       Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest wildlife survey

How amazing is that? By spending an hour counting the birds in your garden or outdoor space you’ll be taking part in the biggest survey of its kind in the world! Last year almost half a million people took part across the UK including 35,000 in Scotland. People’s counting hours recorded more than 8 million birds, with over 626,000 of these in Scotland. It’s thanks to everyone who takes part in Big Garden Birdwatch that the survey has claim to such an incredible accolade – thank you!

2.       It’s the 39th year of Big Garden Birdwatch

Big Garden Birdwatch began in 1979 as something wildlife based for children to do during the winter. It was a collaboration between the junior branch of the RSPB and the BBC’s Blue Peter programme. That first year we were inundated with observations from those who had taken part; RSPB staff had to sort through 34 bin liners of post!

3.       Birdwatch has got bigger!

Back in 2014 as part of the survey we began asking you about the other non-bird wildlife that you get in your garden such as squirrels, hedgehogs, toads and frogs. Since then the species we ask about has varied from year to year and this extra information allows us to build up more of a picture of how important gardens are across the country for giving all nature a home. This year though rather than a selected few we’ll be asking you about all of 15 species that have previously been included since 2014 so there lots of opportunity to tell us about the other wildlife you see. 

And there was a new change last year; we extended Big Garden Birdwatch to include the Monday after the weekend to give people another chance to take part. It was such a success that this year’s survey is also taking place over three days 27, 28 and 29 January – what day will you be doing your counting hour?

4.       The top five birds hold steady

The birds that made up Scotland’s top five in 2017 are the same birds that made up the top five back in 2007 and for many years before that. They’ve hopped and swapped around within these rankings a bit but house sparrows, starlings, chaffinches, blackbirds and blue tits appear to have a steady hold over the Birdwatch results here. In fact house sparrows have lead the results every year since 2012. Will they maintain this in 2018 or will one of their other top five companions pip them to it?

5.       One of the most unusual recordings was on the Isle of Bute

One of the most exciting things about Birdwatch is the usual sightings it can reveal. A black throated thrush was once seen during the survey on the Isle of Bute. That’s rather a long way from its usual home in Asia! Of course while such recordings are very interesting all the information collected by participants is incredibly useful and vital to painting a picture of how all our feathered garden birds, both the regular drop-ins and the more rare ones, are doing.

Our website is packed full of Big Garden Birdwatch fun and activities. As well as being able to register online you can find out about bird care, what we use your results for, and discover the answers to many Birdwatch related questions. Take a look here.