The Big Garden Birdwatch is fun, free and for everyone. You don’t even need a garden to take part. You can count birds from your balcony or in your local park.
The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place this year between Friday 27th – Sunday 29th January 2023. Taking part is as easy as 1,2,3…..
Get your patch ready for Birdwatch.
Remember to give feeders, bird tables, bird tables and hard surfaces under these a thorough clean with hot water and a suitable disinfectant. Be sure to rinse any disinfectant off throughly and always allow feeders to air-dry before adding food. Brushes and equipment used to clean feeders, tables and baths shouldn’t be used for other purposes. Rubber gloves should be worn and hands washed afterwards.
Bird tables are suitable for many species and most foods. A simple tray is perfectly adequate, with or without a roof. It needs a raised rim to retain the food and a gap at each corner of the rim to allow rainwater to drawn away and allow you the clean it.
A large number of birds eat seeds and will be attracted to your garden if you hang up a peanut or seed feeder. Many different types of sizes and designs are available in the Garden Centre, including plastic and metal ones and even some with a metal cage around to discourage squirrels and bigger birds.
Winter is the most important time to feed birds as this is when their natural food is scarce.
Peanut feeders remade of steel mesh and are the only safe method of offering nuts to wild birds. The mesh size needs to be large enough to prevent beak damage and small enough to prevent large pieces of nut from being removed – about 6mm is a good compromise. Poor quality peanuts can carry the aflatoxin fungus, which kills birds if they eat it. Make sure you buy peanuts that are guaranteed aflatoxin-free from reputable suppliers. Our peanuts are supplied by Tom Chambers who use top quality peanuts and are tested for aflatoxin.
Seed feeders are tubular transparent container with holes, through which birds are able to access the seed. The are designed for sunflower seeds and seed mixes labelled feeder seed. These will attract tits and greenfinches.
Nyjer seed is smaller and needs a special type of seed feeder. They are particularly popular with goldfinches and siskins.
Half-coconuts filled with fat, bird cake etc can be hung from your bird table, a tree or from a bracket on a wall. We sell coconut halves already filled or fat balls and sticks that can be put straight into special containers. They will attract greenfinches, house sparrows and tits.
You’ve cleaned and filled your feeders. Now you can sit back and enjoy the feathered friends visiting. Take just an hour between Friday 27th January and Sunday 29th January 2023 to count how many of each species land at a time on your patch. Head to the RSPB website to report your findings to help them build a picture of how our feathered friends are faring.
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2023 for full details how to take part and further information.
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