\n\t\t\tTHE WORLD\u2019S largest garden wildlife survey returns next weekend, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to watch and count the UK\u2019s garden birds for the RSPB\u2019s Big Garden Birdwatch.<\/p>\n
Nearly 600,000 people took part in 2025, counting more than nine million birds.\n<\/p>\n
In the West Midlands around 15,500 people took part, with the Woodpigeon taking the top spot as the most commonly seen bird, followed by the House Sparrow and Blue Tit.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s event takes place on 23, 24 and 25 January.<\/p>\n
People in the region are asked to spend an hour watching and counting the birds that land in their garden, allotment, balcony or local park, then send their results to the RSPB.<\/p>\n
\nBeccy Speight, the RSPB\u2019s chief executive, said: \u201cBy taking part in the Birdwatch, you and hundreds of thousands of other nature lovers across the UK, are helping us understand how garden birds are doing.<\/p>\n
\u201cBirds and wildlife are struggling right now. Every observation counts, even if you see nothing at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether you live in a city or the countryside, anyone, anywhere, can take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch \u2013 even if you don\u2019t have a garden.<\/p>\n
\u201cA park, balcony, allotment or window box will do. Simply spend an hour and count the birds you see. It\u2019s good for wildlife and evidence shows it\u2019s good for our own wellbeing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The Birdwatch, which started in 1979, has since become a much-loved annual citizen science survey, that gives the RSPB a valuable snapshot of how garden birds are doing in the UK.<\/p>\n
There have now been over seven million surveys over that time, more than 200 million birds have been counted and nearly 12.6 million hours spent watching and counting garden birds.<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s UK-wide Big Garden Birdwatch results revealed that House Sparrow held the top spot for another year as the most commonly spotted bird, with Blue Tit riding high at number two and Woodpigeon coming in at number three. Starling and Blackbird made up the remainder of the top five most recorded species.<\/p>\n
Despite the top 10 remaining the same as the previous year 2024, there were declines in average numbers counted for House Sparrow, Blue Tit, and Starling. It could be that these results are weather related, Storm Eowyn hit last year\u2019s Big Garden Birdwatch weekend, which makes it even more interesting to see this year\u2019s results.<\/p>\n
\nBeccy added: \u201cEven on the greyest winter day, garden birds bring a welcome dose of nature into our everyday lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake a moment to pause, to listen, to notice. We need nature, and nature needs us.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy joining the Big Garden Birdwatch you\u2019re doing something positive for birds and nature. Because when we act for nature together, we can do so much more.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n