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Britain's first Olympic event of the year is almost here - the 2012 Big Garden Birdwatch!
Last modified: 17 January 2012
Last year, many people in Cumbria were lucky enough to see waxwings
As Britain prepares for London 2012, the RSPB is preparing for its own Olympic event in the form of its annual Big Garden Birdwatch (28-29 January).
Thankfully, you don’t need to be an athlete to join in; all you’ll need is a pen and paper, a comfy seat, one hour of your time and, preferably, a nice hot cuppa!
Following the success of last year’s Big Garden Birdwatch when over 600,000 people took part nationally, the RSPB is appealing for more sets of eyes in Cumbria than ever before to step up for nature and help form a picture of the fortunes of garden favourites in the recent topsy turvy weather.
Carolyn Jarvis, The RSPB’s People Engagement Manager for Northern England, says: “Taking part in Big Garden Birdwatch not only helps the RSPB track the ups and down of garden birds, but it gives participants the perfect excuse to sit down with a cup of tea and enjoy the wildlife that they share their outside space with.
“You’ll be a part of the biggest garden bird event in the world and you won’t even have to leave the warmth of your armchair!”
Recent harsh winters have seen some garden bird populations in (name of county) drop, only to make a comeback after a good breeding season the following year.
Last year, some of the UK’s smallest garden birds bounced back, and the wildlife charity wants to know whether they have managed to maintain their numbers.
Sightings of the UK’s smallest birds goldcrests, doubled in Cumbria while long tailed tits increased by a half and coal tits increased by a fifth.
And many people in Cumbria were also lucky enough to see waxwings with an influx of the striking birds to the UK from Scandinavia known as a ‘waxwing winter.’
The Big Garden Birdwatch is one of the first indicators to show how UK birds have fared during the previous breeding season and winter. With over half a million people taking part each year and over thirty years worth of data the results give an early indication of garden bird trends.
Carolyn Jarvis added: “The RSPB keeps a watchful eye out for new and emerging trends from Big Garden Birdwatch results, which helped confirm that there was an alarming decline in birds like the house sparrow, starling and song thrush.
“It’s important that we keep a close eye on how our birds are faring, like the house sparrow for example. With so many people stepping up and taking part in Big Garden Birdwatch, if a pattern emerges, we take it seriously. Half a million people can’t be wrong and that’s why the survey is so important.
“There’s nothing else like it on this scale, and as well as getting hundreds of thousands of people enjoying wildlife, it actually helps protect nature by showing the RSPB where we need to focus our efforts.”
To get people in the mood for this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch, Whinlatter Visitor Centre near Keswick, over the weekend of 21 and 22 January is hosting a range of related activities including a bird bingo trail and making bird feeders. The event runs from 11am to 4pm on both days.
To step up for nature and take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch, simply spend one hour over the weekend of 28-29 January, counting the birds in your garden or local park, and record the highest number of each bird species seen at any one time. You can submit your results online at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch from 28 January.
To pre-register for the Big Garden Birdwatch and request a free pack visit: www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch or call 0300 456 8330.
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