Join in the fun with our feathered friends

THE RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch - the world’s largest wildlife survey - takes place on Saturday January 30 and Sunday 31 2010 and they really need your help.

Now in its 31st year, half a million people participate annually but now they are asking for even more people to join the fun.

A record-breaking 551,881 participants helped celebrate the Big Garden Birdwatch 30th birthday in 2009, spotting over 8.5 million birds across nearly 280,000 gardens.

Sarah Kelly, Big Garden Birdwatch co-ordinator, said: “Big Garden Birdwatch provides a fun activity for all the family in the depths of winter.

“Participation just keeps increasing, I believe in part, because it’s so easy to join in!

“By giving up just one hour of your day, you can make a real difference to our knowledge of garden birds. We’re able to distinguish the ones that are doing well from those that need our help.”

Once an activity for children, Big Garden Birdwatch is now hugely popular with children and adults alike and we’re particularly keen to get more families involved this year. Why not make a day of it by creating bird feeders made from recycled household goods or bird cakes for the birds in your garden?

Alternatively see it as a chance to kick back and take an hour out of your busy schedule to watch the world go by – recording the birds you see along the way of course!

“Big Garden Birdwatch is a vital way for you to contribute to a significant piece of wildlife research without leaving the comfort of your home – in fact, we’d really rather you stayed indoors so as not to disturb the visitors to your garden. You don’t need to be an expert but we really couldn’t do it without your help,” said Sarah.

To do your bit for our garden birds, simply spend one hour over the weekend January 30/31 2010 counting the birds in your garden or local park and record the highest number of every bird species seen at any one time.

For further information and online resources to help you with your birdwatch, visit the RSPB website, www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch. An online results form will be available from Saturday January 30 until February 19 2010.

Alternatively call 0300 456 8330 to request a Big Garden Birdwatch form to be sent to you (calls charged at standard rate). The hotline number will be in operation until January 29 2010.