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Germany’s ‘Hour of Winter Birds’ Count Kicks Off This Weekend

NABU seeks one-hour counts reported digitally through January 19 to track settlement-area bird trends.

Overview

  • Volunteers observe for one hour between Friday and Sunday at windows, feeders, gardens or parks, recording the highest number of each species seen simultaneously.
  • The 16th annual survey is organized by NABU with Bavaria’s LBV and centers on common species such as tits, finches, robins and sparrows.
  • Recent frost and snow are expected to increase feeder visits, and NABU advises using quality seed and fat feed, preferably in organic grade.
  • Long‑term results indicate declines in house and Eurasian tree sparrows, with average garden counts falling from about four in 2020 to two to three in 2025.
  • Reports can be submitted via NABU’s website or Vogelwelt app, and recent coverage shows last year’s participation ranged from about 85,000 to 122,000 nationwide.