How to take part

Top 10 tips

Try these simple ideas to help you get the most out of your Big Garden Birdwatch.

  1. Set up your feeder, or bird table near a window so you can easily see what's going on in the garden.
  2. Use our Top 15 birds and A-Z of birds pages to help you identify the birds you see.
  3. Birds are more active first thing in the morning, so by doing your count then, you'll increase the number you see.
  4. Don't worry if you don't record all the birds, just note the ones you can clearly identify.
  5. You don't have to have a garden - you can do the count in your local park, or if you're in a flat, put a feeder on your window and count the birds that visit.
  6. Only count the highest number of birds you see at any one time.
  7. Our counting sheet will help you keep a tally of what you see and the pictures will help with identification.
  8. Send your records in online - it's quick and easy and it saves us money, so more can go to helping wild birds.
  9. Try putting out a selection of foods, including peanuts (please put them in a mesh feeder), seeds, fat and kitchen scraps, which will attract different types of birds.
  10. The Big Garden Birdwatch is an ideal excuse to take an hour out for yourself - make the most of it: make a cup of tea, get out the biscuits and take the phone off the hook. This hour is for you and the birds!