Big Garden Birdwatch

Bird lovers and nature lovers alike can join together to show their appreciation for these creatures who bring their songs and colors to the world! With more than 18,000 species of birds in the world, there are surely some interesting ones to see and count in celebration of the Big Garden Birdwatch!

History of Big Garden Birdwatch

When the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) was formed in the United Kingdom in 1904, its purpose was to help advocate for and support these beautiful flying creatures in their natural habitats. Working on projects such as government issues like the Importation of Plumage Act in 1921, the society is known for its creation of more than 200 natural habitats for birds to live in, all over the UK.

Beginning in 1979, the Big Schools Birdwatch was originally launched in the United Kingdom as a project specifically for schools at the time. Then, in 1998, in an effort to include more than just schools but all citizens, the Big Garden Birdwatch was launched.

The purpose of the day is to raise awareness for and encourage participation in the protection of and education about the birds and other animals as they live in their natural habitat. In addition, the day is meant to motivate and mobilize people to help in a national survey in the UK for counting and keeping track of the birds in each person’s garden.

Even though it is celebrated at the end of January, there are still plenty of birds that are not migratory and have not gone south for the winter. So get that notebook, and perhaps some binoculars, and get ready to participate in the Big Garden Birdwatch!

How to Celebrate Big Garden Birdwatch

Head outside and get some fresh air for an hour or two while participating in the Big Garden Birdwatch. Try out some of these ideas for celebrating the day:

Participate in the Big Garden Birdwatch

Starting on Big Garden Birdwatch Day, and including the next two days as well, people in the UK can simply choose an hour to spend watching and counting the birds in their garden, local park or balcony. Each year, approximately one million people from all over the UK are willing to take part by counting their birds and turning the counts into the RSPB.

Those who don’t live in the UK may not be able to participate in the official Big Garden Birdwatch Day count, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still a day for watching and counting those birds!

Go Out Birdwatching

Those who have a hobby of birdwatching, or those who want to start, can take the Big Garden Birdwatch as an inspiration to grab those binoculars and get watching. Perhaps it would be in a local park, in a nearby National Park, or near a lake. Typically, when it comes to birdwatching, the more remote and quiet the area, the better it can be. So grab a friend and get ready to watch (and count) those birds.