RSPB calling on all Cumbrian Birdwatchers as annual garden event looms

Next week's RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey and provides a snapshot of how garden birds are faring in the UK.

In 2023, over half a million people across the UK took part, counting more than nine million birds.

With birds now facing so many challenges due to the nature and climate emergency, every count matters.

The world’s largest garden wildlife survey returns this month, with hundreds of thousands of people watching and counting the UK’s Garden birds over the last weekend in January for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch.

Over half a million people took part in 2023, counting more than nine million birds. In Cumbria 6,418 people took part, with the House Sparrow taking the top spot as the most commonly seen bird, followed by the Blue Tit and Starling.

This year’s event takes place on January 26, 27 and 28 2024. People in Cumbria are asked to spend an hour watching and counting the birds in their garden, balcony or local park, then send their results to the RSPB.

Taking part in the birdwatch (Image: Eleanor Bentall (rspb-images.com))

This year’s event marks 45 years since the first Big Garden Birdwatch. Starting in 1979, it has since become a much-loved annual citizen science event, that gives the RSPB a valuable snapshot of how garden birds are doing in the UK.

Over that time, 185 million birds have been counted and nearly 11.5 million hours spent watching and counting garden birds.

Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s chief executive, said: “By taking part in the Birdwatch you are joining hundreds of thousands of people from across the UK, united in a love of nature, to play an important role in helping us understand how UK birds are doing.

"Big Garden Birdwatch demonstrates the power that people have when they come together for nature. Join us for Big Garden Birdwatch 2024 and together let’s take action to help birds and other wildlife thrive for generations to come.”