BBC - Stoke and Staffordshire Features - RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

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January 2003
Staffordshire Big Garden Birdwatch

The Robin is a winter visitor to our shores

The Robin is a traditional UK winter bird

One of the country's leading bird charities, the RSPB, is asking Staffordshire people to help out in a survey which aims to preserve the number of birds in their garden. It's called the Big Garden Birdwatch!

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The Big Garden Birdwatch is important in providing a picture of the most common birds to be found in the Potteries and other towns and cities across the UK.

Everyone in Staffordshire is being urged to record the type of birds in their garden and the how many there are.

Staffordshire's top ten birds

This annual event will then provide the RSPB with an idea of what species of birds are in decline, so they can then take steps to preserve that species.

You’ll be playing a key role in the RSPB’s mission to save endangered species - and you never know what you might see!

How to take part

All you need to do is spend one hour during the weekend of 25-26 January (or, for schools, the week before or after this weekend) watching the birds in your garden, local park or school.

Then record the largest number of each species you see at any one time (not the total number you see during the hour, because some birds may visit several times while you're watching).

You only need to record the birds in your garden, park or school grounds - not the ones flying over. For more details see the RSPB website at www.rspb.org

Schools
Why not take part in the Big Garden Watch at school? For teachers, the Great Garden Bird watch is a fantastic opportunity to educate children about the benefits of conservation from an early age!

The emphasis is on taking part and having fun - no particular bird watching expertise is necessary for teacher, helpers or children.

Fun birdcake recipe
Mix two parts of nuts (peanuts are best, not salted), seeds, oatmeal, cheese, currant and raisins together with one part melted suet or other fat. Let the mixture set in a suitable container (an empty yoghurt pot will do - first make a hole in the bottom) and then hang it up where the birds can gradually peck out the mixture or tip the birdcake out onto a bird table.

If you are a teacher who is interested in taking part in The Big Garden Bird Watch , you can order a starter pack by visiting www.rspb.org and following the links to The Big Garden Watch.

Save the Starling!
By participating in the Big Garden Bird Watch you can have fun and be instrumental in protecting local wildlife at the same time! You will be helping to protect declining species of birds such as the starling.

The starling is sometimes regarded as a bit of a bully, often seen stealing food from the smaller birds. Such a rascal of a bird should surely be able to look after itself then? This in fact is not the case!

Starlings are not as tough as they appear on the surface as there population has decreased by a startling 72%. By developing a habit of feeding our feathered friends, we can prevent further decline of species such as the starling and the sparrow.

Identifying garden birds
Not sure what species of bird you’ve just spied in your garden? Well why not click here and read the RSPB's quick guide to birds!

So get birdwatching! Its free, Its fun, Its educational, and your survey could play a key role in helping the local environment! What are you waiting for!

Staffordshire's Top Ten Garden Birds 2002
No.	Bird Species	No. of Birds	Average No.
1st	Starling	10657	4.8
2nd	House Sparrow	10231	4.6
3rd	Blue Tit	6596	3.0
4th	Blackbird	5984	2.7
5th	Chaffinch	5493	2.5
6th	Greenfinch	4984	2.3
7th	Collared Dove	3772	1.7
8th	Great Tit	3431	1.6
9th	Wood Pigeon	2777	1.3
9th	Robin	2773	1.26