Big Garden Birdwatch – 30 and 31 January 2016
The countdown has commenced for the world’s biggest garden wildlife survey – and more people in Greater Manchester than ever before are being called upon to take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch (January 30-31)
Now in its 37th year, the Big Garden Birdwatch helps to provide valuable information about the changes in numbers of birds using our gardens in winter and create a picture of how our garden wildlife is doing.
With more than half a million people across the UK expected to take part this year, it’s a great event for all ages and it couldn’t be easier to join in the fun. Simply count the birds in your garden or local park for one hour over Big Garden Birdwatch weekend and tell the RSPB what you see.
And for the third time in the event’s history, participants are also being asked to log some of the other wildlife which snuffles and settles in their gardens and local parks, including badgers, hedgehogs and red squirrels.
To help you prepare for the Big Garden Birdwatch, there are plenty of events taking place in Greater Manchester this January – from discovering how to attract more wildlife into your garden to gaining tips on how to identify the creatures which live on your doorstep.
In the run-up to the Big Garden Birdwatch weekend, join members of RSPB Stockport Local Group at Brookside Garden Centre in Poynton on Saturday 23 January, or Woodford Park Garden Centre in Stockport on Sunday 24 January, between 10 am-4.30 pm both days, to find out how to make your Big Garden Birdwatch a success and discover plenty of wildlife-friendly gardening tips. For more information on this free event, email crouch108@btinternet.com or call 01625 873147.
During the Big Garden Birdwatch weekend, visit Fletcher Moss, Didsbury, on Saturday 30 January to join the RSPB and Friends of Fletcher Moss in the new wildlife garden to take part in the survey. There will also be plenty of other nature-related activities, including making bird feeders to take home and discovering ways to give nature a home where you live. The free drop-in session, which runs from 10 am-3 pm, is held in partnership with Manchester City Council – helping to Give Nature a Home in the Mersey Valley. For more information, email mersey.valley@rspb.org.uk or call 07540 121309.
Or join members from RSPB Stockport Local Group at Reddish Vale Country Park, in Stockport, on Saturday 30 January between 10 am-12 pm to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch. The free event is the perfect opportunity to gain a helping hand when completing the survey and advice on identifying a variety of birds. You can also join a guided walk of the park to look out for our feathered friends – meet group members in the visitor centre for a 10 am start.
For more information, email crouch108@btinternet.com or call 01625 873147.
You can also carry out your survey with Southway Housing Trust at Huntington Green Space, Withington, on Saturday 30 January at a free drop-in session between 10 am-12 pm. For more information, email mersey.valley@rspb.org.uk.
On Sunday 31 January, head to Chorlton Water Park between 11 am-4 pm to carry out your Big Garden Birdwatch with the help of the RSPB team. See what other wildlife you can spot and also make a bird feeder to take home to help attract more visitors to your garden. This is a free drop-in event and everyone is welcome join the fun – meet by the lake, next to the children’s play area. This event is run in partnership with Manchester City Council – helping to Give Nature a Home in the Mersey Valley. For more information, email mersey.valley@rspb.org.uk
or call 07540 121309.
Daniel Hayhow, RSPB Conservation Scientist, said: “Last year’s survey saw more than eight-and-a-half million birds spotted nationally, making it another great year for participation. With over half a million people now regularly taking part, coupled with over 30 years worth of data, Big Garden Birdwatch allows us to monitor trends and helps us understand how birds are doing.
“As the format of the survey has stayed the same, the scientific data can be compared year-on-year, making your results very valuable. With results from so many gardens, we are able to create a ‘snapshot’ of bird numbers across the UK. Once we know which birds are in trouble, together we can ensure that our garden wildlife will be around forever.”
Since the Big Garden Birdwatch began, over half of our house sparrows and 80 per cent of our starlings have disappeared – and the RSPB knows this thanks to people taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch and sharing their findings. Today, participants can simply record the birds as they see them directly onto a laptop, tablet or smartphone with an online bird counting tool or send results in the post.
To help attract wildlife into your garden, there are plenty of tips for helping to give nature a home where you live on the RSPB website. No matter how big or small your outside space, there’s something you can do to make a difference and the Big Garden Birdwatch is a great way of taking stock of how wildlife is doing near you. Visit www.rspb.org.uk/homes for more information.
To register to take part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2016 and request a pack, please visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
