What will you see in the Big Garden Birdwatch in Sutherland?
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The world’s largest garden wildlife survey returns with hundreds of thousands of people watching and counting garden birds this weekend.
The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch attracted more than a million people across the UK took part – making it the biggest Birdwatch ever.
Seventeen million birds were counted over a three-day period with the house sparrow keeping its title as the UK’s most seen bird.
Over its four decades, Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world, giving the RSPB an astonishing amount of insight into how our wildlife is faring.
This year’s event takes place tomorrow through to the end of Sunday.
The public is asked to spend just one hour watching and recording the birds in their garden, balcony or local park, then send their results to the RSPB.
Just one hour every year, for the last four decades, has made the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch the largest garden wildlife citizen science project.
Now in its 43rd year, over 150 million birds have been counted.
Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland, said: “Huge enthusiasm and love of nature were wonderfully evident across Scotland during Big Garden Birdwatch 2021.
"The last two years have reminded us all that nature is a part of our lives, reviving and supporting our wellbeing and mental health.
"Big Garden Birdwatch allows everyone to put aside some time just to concentrate on nature – and, at the same time, help to gather the information we need to do more to protect and restore wildlife.
"When you take part in the Birdwatch, you are helping to build an annual snapshot of how our birdlife is faring across Scotland and the UK.
"It is only by building understanding that we can protect wildlife. Nature is in crisis – but together, we can take meaningful action. And we can all have some collective fun too.”
The house sparrow remained at the top of the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings as the most commonly seen garden bird with 2.6 million sighted in 2021.
The blue tit and starling completed the top three.
While house sparrows and starlings may be the UK’s most commonly sighted birds, a closer look at Big Garden Birdwatch data shows that numbers have in fact dropped dramatically since the Birdwatch began in 1979.
House sparrows are down 58 per cent while starlings are down 83 per cent.
To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2022, watch the birds in your garden or local park for one hour at some point over the three days.
Only count the birds that land, not those flying over.
Paul Walton, Head of Habitats and Species for RSPB Scotland, said: “Big Garden Birdwatch gives everyone a chance to spend a little time just enjoying the wildlife around us. But it also allows us to engage in real science. It is very simple to do and to report – just tell us what you see in your garden or local park.
"That simplicity is its strength. So many people engage, right across the country, that Big Garden Birdwatch is a survey of enormous scale. The picture it gives us across the years is unique and valuable information on how winter garden birds are faring nationally.”
The parallel event RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch takes place during the first half of spring term, 5 January – 21 February 2022.
For your FREE Big Garden Birdwatch guide, which includes a bird identification chart, top tips for your birdwatch, RSPB shop voucher, plus advice on how to help you attract wildlife to your garden, text BIRD to 70030 or visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
