The RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch

AfternoonLemon · #1 (**permalink**) 05-01-2012, 08:28 PM

I'm sure most of you have seen the ads... complete with a picture of a cat hunting for birds

Is anyone participating in this then? I think my count will be slightly dull - a handful of blackbirds and starlings, sparrows, coal and blue tits, and a couple of doves

tigertom · #2 (**permalink**) 05-01-2012, 08:32 PM

I will as allways be takeing part, I think it help to give a good indcation of how our garden bird are doing

MIKE

earthdragon64 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-01-2012, 08:33 PM

Even if you think you won't see much, it's still worthwhile taking part. It's a good way to get younger family members interested in wildlife, and knowing where bird species aren't can be just as important as knowing where they are.

I haven't seen any of the ads yet, but if they make cat owners think about what their pets get up to, it can only be a good thing.

Regards, Audrey.

Janec · #4 (**permalink**) 05-01-2012, 08:51 PM

I'll be doing it. It gives me an excuse to stop working and watch the birds for an hour. It's not skiving if it's for a charity

geezer1 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-01-2012, 08:56 PM

Me and the kids have signed up. Pens,paper and bird books at the ready.

RaptorMan101 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-01-2012, 09:55 PM

I certainly will be taking part

have done for the last 2 years since I discovered it

I haven't got every one of my feeders out at the moment but within the next week I will put everyone up so I can get as many birds as I would if I left them all up all year

and if anyone's read this and thinking I didnt feed them all autumn and December I did as always but I have in access of 20 feeders so I don't feed them as much in the warmer months

Happy birding for the 28th and 29th of Jan

Jim

Deb London · #7 (**permalink**) 06-01-2012, 05:39 AM

The OH and I do this together. I like to think he learns at least one new species each time; the tick sheet with pictures on has been helpful in the past. We have lunch/brunch while we are doing it and I try and make that interesting and tasty, in the hope that he starts to associate birdwatching with something nice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janec

I'll be doing it. It gives me an excuse to stop working and watch the birds for an hour. It's not skiving if it's for a charity

Exactly!

Wild-Woman · #8 (**permalink**) 06-01-2012, 05:51 AM

Whatever turns up in your garden even if it is just one or two birds, it's important information which is used for monitoring changes in bird population.
I have done this for years and it's an enjoyable hour for me just observing what the birds do.
I've also organised it in a school where 80 children, in rota, did this during their lunch-break. It was brilliant fun.

Wharfrat · #9 (**permalink**) 06-01-2012, 09:07 AM

I always do this, apart from one year when it absolutely tipped it down. It forces me to look out of the window for an hour, and I see things I may not otherwise spot.
Although so many years I have had interesting things like Green Woodpecker or Brambling in the garden the weekend before and they never show up on the "right" day!

ChristineB · #10 (**permalink**) 06-01-2012, 08:12 PM

I did this for the first time a couple of years ago when I was so eager to get as many birds counted as possible that I scattered far too much seed on the lawn. The first sight that greeted me the morning after when I opened the curtains was a huge rat feeding on the leftovers. It came every day for about three weeks after that! So don't anyone make my mistake! I have now learnt my lesson and hang most of my food in feeders and just put a very small amount on the ground each day!

Having said that I will definitely be doing the count this year - I have at least 15 redpolls visiting on a daily basis - I am sure more and more are arriving to join the group each day! They are getting through the nyger seed at an alarming rate.