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Jon Carter from the British Trust for Ornithology, in Thetford, explores how to enjoy the seasonal changes in local birdlife by joining the Big Garden Birdwatch




Winter is a wonderful time for enjoying the birds that live around us. Whether our homes are in towns and cities or in the countryside there is almost always something for us to see. And for many people with gardens and yards, attracting wildlife into our green spaces enables a tangible and accessible connection with nature.

Even on the frostiest of days, for many of us our hearts will be warmed by the mere sight of a foraging robin or the acrobatic displays of a dazzling blue tit.

With a relative abundance of food and shelter, our gardens can be an essential haven for many birds during these colder months and, consequently, we provide sanctuary for millions of birds right across the UK at this time of year. But it is worth remembering that our cherished gardens and yards also function as micro nature reserves all year long.

Blue Tit by Philip Croft
Blue Tit by Philip Croft
Blue Tit by Philip Croft
Blue Tit by Philip Croft

Hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic amateur naturalists took part in the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch last weekend, proving once again just how engaged so many of us are with our neighbourhood birds. If you, like me, were one of those who sat for that allotted hour and noted the feathery comings and goings, you may well be interested in taking this passion one step further…

By taking part in the Garden Birdwatch scheme, set up by the British Trust for Ornithology in 1995, you can join thousands of other householders and turn your year-round sightings into science.

Suffolk’s gardens are important places for a wide range of wildlife, but we have seen significant changes in the populations of several familiar species in recent years. We really need to understand how and why these changes are happening and what we can do to help those affected species.

Robin
Robin

By registering to take part in Garden Birdwatch you can help by simply telling us which species visit your garden on a regular basis. Adding further details can help us to understand how wildlife uses food, shelter and other resources in our gardens.

Participants provide their sightings, which are then analysed by scientists working under BTO's urban and garden ecology research programmes to investigate links between changes in wildlife populations and things such as garden management, food, weather and wider urban structure.

Anyone can take part and we welcome records from all types of gardens, wherever you may live. Records from a small city garden or yard are every bit as valuable as those from a large rural plot. Even if you don’t see many birds, this is also really useful information.

Jon Carter
Jon Carter

Garden Birdwatch is just one of many volunteer-led surveys organised and operated by BTO, helping to paint a better picture of the UK’s birdlife.

To find out more about Garden Birdwatch and how to take part, visit bto.org/gbw

British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, IP24 2PU
Call 01842 750050
See
bto.org