The RSPB works tirelessly to protect the stunning wildlife that surrounds us and, every year, more than half a million people across the UK participate in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, an event which has taken place since 1979.
Everyone can get involved, and it’s something small that can make a real difference. The next event is happening between 26 and 28 January 2024 and taking part couldn’t be easier. Simply sign up on the RSPB site and spend an hour at any point over those three days enjoying your garden and counting all the birds that land during that time. Then you just need to submit your results to the RSPB.
And if you discover this might be your new hobby, why not get a bit of a helping hand by reading our birdwatch basics guide and then use the RSPB's handy bird identification tool so you can look like an expert! This year, they have also compiled a brilliant quiz for a bit of fun. Why not take the test and find out which garden bird you are. Maybe you are an independent blackbird or a noisy chaffinch!
Garden Bird Quiz
Over the past four decades the event has occurred, it has provided invaluable insights for the RSPB. As data is comparable year-on-year, it can help to monitor trends in nature and, most importantly, identify threats to nature so that they can be remedied. In 2023, 540,000 nature lovers took part in the Big Garden Birdwatch with the house sparrow topping the pecking order, being the most-seen bird for the 20th year in a row.
Make a difference for nature
At holidaycottages.co.uk, we are helping the RSPB to spread the word that the natural world is in trouble and we all need to help to make a difference for nature to save it for future generations. It’s also a sad fact that threats to nature aren’t just affecting birds – other wildlife is also facing adversity, so to give the RSPB a clearer picture, you can also include details of other garden creatures you may spot.
On this gem of an isle, we are blessed with myriad landscapes that offer prime birdwatching opportunities. With wildflower meadows, wetlands, farmland, woodland and coast, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to opting for a location to enjoy our spectacular wildlife, and experiencing these landscapes for yourself will make you fall in love with the UK all over again. We have a huge selection of handpicked properties – from resplendent castles in rural Scotland to cosy coastal cottages – to choose from, or why not have a read of our guide to some of our cottages near nature reserves?
Whether you want to spot capercaille or osprey near the Cairngorms, lapwings and redshanks at the Exe Estuary Nature Reserve or pink-footed geese at Holkham Nature Reserve, we have a superb collection of cottages for you to return to. For a little more inspiration, read our blog on the best spots in the UK to birdwatch and, don't forget the garden bird quiz for a bit of fun!