The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, the world’s largest wildlife survey, takes place in January each year for several key reasons:
Optimal Time for Bird Spotting:
Food Scarcity: January is a challenging month for birds. Natural food sources are scarce, making them more reliant on supplementary feeding in gardens and parks. This makes it easier for people to observe a greater variety and number of birds visiting their local areas.
Predictable Bird Behaviour: Birds’ behaviour is more predictable during the colder months as they focus on survival. Established routines around feeding and roosting make them easier to spot and count accurately during the Birdwatch.
Data Collection and Conservation:
Long-term Monitoring: The consistent timing in January allows the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) to track long-term trends in bird populations. By comparing data year after year, they can identify species in decline, monitor the impact of environmental changes, and implement appropriate conservation efforts. This is all possible because of a consistent methodology for counting birds during the event.
Baseline Data: Conducting the survey in January provides essential baseline data on bird populations before the breeding season begins in spring. This helps scientists understand the overall health and stability of bird populations and inform conservation strategies.
Public Engagement and Awareness:
Citizen Science: The Big Garden Birdwatch is a citizen science project, relying on the participation of hundreds of thousands of volunteers. The January timing encourages people to connect with nature and contribute to valuable scientific research, fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility for wildlife. Learn more about the BGBW.
For information on when the next Big Garden Birdwatch takes place and when the previous Big Garden Birdwatch have taken place, please take a look at our article When is the event this year. You can also discover why and when the event started.
Mark your calendars and join hundreds of thousands of others in this important citizen science initiative. Spend an hour observing the birds in your garden or local park, identify and log your BGBW birds (you can use the Birda app for this and make it more fun) and contribute to valuable research that helps protect our feathered friends. Your participation, no matter how small, can make a big difference.
