RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Kicks Off, Encouraging UK Citizens to Monitor Bird Populations

The annual event invites participants to count birds for an hour to aid conservation efforts and track species' health in the face of climate and disease challenges.

• The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, the UK’s largest citizen science project, runs from January 24 to 26, inviting people to count birds in their gardens or local green spaces.
• Participants contribute crucial data to monitor bird populations, helping to identify species in decline and understand environmental impacts such as climate change and disease.
• Notable species to watch for include house sparrows, blue tits, robins, and winter visitors like redwings and fieldfares from Scandinavia.
• The event has documented significant trends since 1979, including a 60% decline in house sparrow numbers and a 63% drop in greenfinch populations due to disease outbreaks.
• Experts emphasize the importance of safe bird-feeding practices to prevent disease spread, recommending hanging feeders over flat tables and regular cleaning of feeding equipment.

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