About

Your questions answered

I don't know much about birds, does this matter?

No. The aim of Big Schools' Birdwatch is to encourage everybody to watch and learn about birds.

I'm not sure what we saw, what shall I do?

If you're really unsure what you or one of the children has spotted, either:

  • Leave it out and tell us about the ones you do know
  • Tell us about it when you submit your results and we'll see if we can help
  • Ask a colleague – and puzzle it out together!

We didn't see very much. Is it worth sending in our results?

Absolutely! We use all the results sent in. If you didn't see many birds it's possible other schools in your area didn't either, which could reflect a decline in numbers locally, regionally or nationally.

Without your results a decline in numbers may be harder to spot.

You must submit your results to receive a certificate for your school and automatic listing to receive a pack next year.

We didn't see very many birds, why might this be?

Many factors can affect the number of birds you see and most of these tend to be unpredictable! The weather, the sudden appearance of a cat, children noisily enjoying their break, and squirrels sitting on feeders tend to be common causes.

You can do things to make your school grounds more attractive to birds.

I've lost my PIN number. Can I still submit my results online?

Don't worry if you have lost your PIN number. Once you are ready to submit your results, you'll get the chance to ask us to retrieve your PIN. You'll just need to give us the e-mail address that you gave us during registration, and we'll resend your PIN.

I don't have a PIN number. Can I still submit my results online?

Yes. However, submitting your results will take slightly longer, and may not be 100% whiteboard-friendly as you will be asked to type your details into a form first.

How can we attract more birds to our school grounds?

Discovering birds at school is a free RSPB publication for teachers who would like to find out more about birds and school grounds.

You can order one via the RSPB Education Resources Catalogue.

Would you like a set of results from every child in the class?

No thank you. Please pool individual results together to tell us the highest number of each kind of bird, which were seen together at one time so that you just submit one set of results that accurately reflects the bird numbers in your area.

When will we receive our certificate?

This is likely to be late March, before your Easter break. We will be collecting results until 13 February and then we process all the results to tell you about how many birds love going to school in your area and around the UK.

We try to do this as quickly as we can. Thank you for your patience.

What other projects and activities for children do the RSPB offer?

Our Education Resources Catalogue is packed full of resources to use with your class, or youth group.

Explore an RSPB reserve with your class at one of our field teaching centres.

Or visit our youth pages and find out more about other projects and activities you can get involved with.

Can youth groups take part in Big Schools' Birdwatch?

The Big Schools' Birdwatch is an activity for groups of young people to carry out together in one location. If you are able to do the activity during a group meeting and daylight hours you are welcome to join in with the Big Schools' Birdwatch.

If you are unable to do this, please take part in Big Garden Birdwatch.

How does Big Schools' Birdwatch relate to BBC Breathing Places?

Like Big Schools' Birdwatch, BBC Breathing Places encourages schools to take a closer look at their grounds, and to make use of them as a resource for teaching and learning as well as using them as places of fun!

BBC Breathing Places offers schools three activities each academic year to carry out in their school grounds.

The RSPB offers schools a broad range of activities and resources, of which Big Schools' Birdwatch is only one.

Can Big Schools' Birdwatch be a homework activity?

The Big Schools' Birdwatch is an activity for groups of young people to carry out together in one location and to submit one set of results for. Therefore it is not suitable for homework, however the Big Garden Birdwatch can be carried out by individuals or groups from their homes.

If you would like children to count the birds they can see at home please make sure they use Big Garden Birdwatch forms.

In more depth
  • About Big Garden Birdwatch

Who can I contact for further queries?

Please e-mail the Big Schools' Birdwatch team: schoolswatch@rspb.org.uk if the answer to your question can't be found on these pages.
Robin