RSPB celebrates 40 years of counting garden birds in Yorkshire

The RSPB is celebrating a very special anniversary of its world famous Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend and is inviting people across Yorkshire to get involved.
Blue tit, Parus caeruleus, perched on branch in garden.Blue tit, Parus caeruleus, perched on branch in garden.
Blue tit, Parus caeruleus, perched on branch in garden.

Just one hour every year, for the last 40 years, has made the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch the largest garden wildlife citizen science project.

During that time, hundreds of thousands of people have volunteered their time providing the RSPB with over 8 million hours of monitoring garden birds.

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Over the last four decades, an astonishing 130 million birds have been counted giving the RSPB real insight into how our birds are faring.

This year’s event takes place tomorrow, Sunday and Monday.

People are asked to spend just one hour watching and recording the birds in their garden or local green space, then send their results to the RSPB. Around half-a-million people join in the Birdwatch every year, including over 31,900 in Yorkshire last year.

To mark the event, the RSPB is encouraging participants in Yorkshire to share their Big Garden Birdwatch stories. How will you #BigGardenBirdWatch? will showcase some of the best examples of how people take part from building their own birdwatching den, baking birdseed cakes and dressing up as Batman to see Robin.

Mike Clarke, RSPB Chief Executive, said: “Everyone has a role to play in saving nature and protecting our wildlife. Big Garden Birdwatch participants have made a significant contribution to monitoring garden bird numbers over the past four decades.

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“Those taking part work together as part of a community with thousands of other Big Garden Birdwatchers to help the RSPB’s work to protect birds, other wildlife and the places they live.

“Reaching 40 years is a huge achievement and shows just how passionate people across the UK are about their wildlife. The survey started as a winter activity for our youth members. It’s now the largest garden wildlife survey in the world and appeals to both children and adults because it’s an enjoyable, easy, inclusive activity that anyone can do and a great opportunity to connect with nature.”

As well as counting birds, the RSPB is once again asking participants in Yorkshire to log some of the other wildlife they have seen throughout the year. This year, people are being asked to look out for badger, fox, grey squirrel, red squirrel, muntjac deer, roe deer, frog and toad.

Only count the birds that land, not those flying over. Tell the RSPB the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour.

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Once you have recorded the birds that make a visit, submit your results online at rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

The parallel event, RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch takes place during the first half of spring term. Visit rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch for more information.