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Bird watchers in Nottinghamshire needed to take part in RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch




Your help is needed to ‘make it count’ for our garden birds this weekend.

The 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 2024, over 600,000 people across the UK took part, counting more than nine million birds — with more than 10,000 people taking part in Nottinghamshire.

House sparrow, Passer domesticus, female perched on feeder in garden. Ray Kennedy (rspb-images.com)
House sparrow, Passer domesticus, female perched on feeder in garden. Ray Kennedy (rspb-images.com)

The house sparrow took the top spot as the most commonly seen bird, followed by wood pigeon in second and blue tits in third.

In Lincolnshire, nearly 9,000 people took part, with the house sparrow again the most commonly seen bird, followed by the starling and wood pigeon.

This year’s event takes place this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 24, 25, and 26 and people 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.

Blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus, adult perched on branch. Ray Kennedy (rspb-images.com)
Blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus, adult perched on branch. Ray Kennedy (rspb-images.com)

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

This year’s event marks over four decades 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, 195 million birds have been counted and nearly 12.1 million hours spent watching and counting garden birds.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris. Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
Starling Sturnus vulgaris. Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)

Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s chief executive, said: “At its heart, Big Garden Birdwatch is an opportunity for people to spend an hour watching, enjoying, and connecting with the wildlife on their doorstep.

“From chirpy house sparrows to acrobatic blue tits, the entertaining antics of our garden birds can brighten even the dullest day and bring a welcome dose of nature into our everyday lives.

“By taking part in the Birdwatch, you and hundreds of thousands of other nature lovers across the UK, play an important role in helping us understand how garden birds are doing. With the nature and climate emergency threatening even our most familiar birds, every count matters. It’s good for wildlife and evidence shows it’s good for our own wellbeing.”

Last year’s UK-wide Big Garden Birdwatch results revealed that the house sparrow held the top spot for another year as the most commonly spotted bird, with blue tit coming in at number two and the starling at number three. Woodpigeons and blackbirds made up the remainder of the top five most recorded species.

Although 1.4 million house sparrows were spotted across the January weekend last year, average numbers spotted in gardens, parks and community spaces have dropped drastically, 60%, since the first Big Garden Birdwatch in 1979. The starling has also seen its numbers drop by more than 80% since 1979.

But the blue tit and great tit, much-loved garden species, have seen their average numbers rise by 24% and 61% respectively.

Beccy added: “Whether you live in a city or the countryside, anyone, anywhere can take part in Big Garden Birdwatch – even if you don’t have a garden!

“All you need is an hour to spend watching the birds in your local green space. When we come together for nature, we can do great things. Join us for Big Garden Birdwatch 2025 and together let’s take action to help birds and other wildlife thrive for generations to come.”

Registration for Big Garden Birdwatch 2025 is open until Friday (January 26) — To receive your free postal or digital Big Garden Birdwatch guide, which includes a bird identification chart, top tips for your Birdwatch, RSPB shop voucher, and advice on how to attract wildlife to your garden, text BIRD to 82727, or visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.

Then all you need to do is watch the birds on your balcony, in your garden, or in your local green space for one hour at some point over the three days — only count the birds that land, not those flying over.



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