Count the wildlife that’s counting on you in Greater Manchester

Observing wildlife, Big Garden Birdwatch event, Cambridgeshire, October 2013

Thousands of people across Greater Manchester are expected to watch and count their garden birds for the upcoming RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2018.

The world’s largest garden wildlife survey, now in its 39th year, takes place on 27, 28 and 29 January 2018. The public 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.

Close to half-a-million people joined in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey in 2017, including over 12,200 in Greater Manchester, counting more than eight million birds and providing valuable information about the wildlife using our gardens in winter. The house sparrow remained top of the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings in the county, with blackbird and starling rounding off the top three.

Robin Erithacus rubecula, sitting in grass, March

To help prepare for Big Garden Birdwatch 2018, there are events on offer around Greater Manchester this January – from discovering how to attract more wildlife into your garden to gaining tips on how to identify the creatures that live on your doorstep.

On Saturday 27 January, RSPB staff will be on hand at Clifton Country Park in Salford and Heaton Park in Manchester with tips on taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch and advice on attracting garden wildlife. Drop-in 10am-3pm.

On Saturday 27 January. At Fletcher Moss in Didsbury, visitors can take part in a Big Garden Birdwatch as well as making bird feeders and other nature-themed activities, so the RSPB are encouraging families to come along and get involved. Drop-in 10am-3pm.

On Sunday 28 January, meet RSPB staff at Chorlton Water Park in Chorlton to join in with a Big Garden Birdwatch, bird feeder making and other nature-themed activities. Drop-in 10am-3pm.

Daniel Hayhow, RSPB Conservation Scientist said: “The birds we see in our garden are often the first experience we have with nature – whether it’s a flock of starlings at the feeder, a robin perched on the fence or some house sparrows splashing in the bird bath. But it may come as a surprise to know that some of our most-loved species are in desperate need of our help as their numbers have dropped dramatically.
Species such as starlings and greenfinches have seen their numbers visiting gardens decline by 79 and 59 per cent retrospectively since the first Birdwatch in 1979.

Daniel added: “The Big Garden Birdwatch is a great opportunity to get involved with helping our garden wildlife. By counting the birds that visit your outdoor space, you’ll be joining a team of over half-a-million people across the UK who are making a difference for nature. It only takes an hour so grab a cuppa, sit back and see who makes a flying visit to your garden.”

As well as counting birds, the RSPB is once again asking participants 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.

To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2018, participants should watch the birds in the garden or local park for one hour at some point over the three days. Only the birds that land in the garden or local park should be counted, not those flying over. The highest number of each type of bird seen at any one time then needs to be sent to the RSPB.

For a free Big Garden Birdwatch pack, which includes a bird identification chart, plus RSPB shop voucher and advice to help attract garden wildlife, text BIRD to 70030 or visit rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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