Counting my birds

[Diane E]

Hello. I would like to do some recording of bird numbers in my garden. For example, I'd definately like to track the trends of when they 'disappear' and 'reappear' at various times during the year.

What is the best way to 'count' (if you know what I mean!)?

Presumably daily is best? Do I count the maximum number of any one species at any one time in the garden? Do I do it at the same time everyday? Or what?

I'll really like to do this so any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

[henrya]

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What is the best way to 'count' (if you know what I mean!)?
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I'm not so sure the exact method matters as much as the fact that you use the same method all the time.

Daily is best, or the same day of the week if you do it weekly (there may be daily differences if, say, neighbours only feed the birds at weekends). Watching for an hour and counting the maximum number of each species seen at a time is, if I remember right, how the RSPB do their Big Garden Birdwatch. As for time I'd choose the middle of the day if I could - if you chose 8am you'd be doing it in the dark for some of the year! You could choose two hours after sunrise, but you'd be getting up jolly early in the summer!

henrya