News: Spring/Summer 2006

Its January - it must be nearly time for the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch!

The 2006 Big Garden Birdwatch takes place on 28-29 January 2006 and all you need to do to take part is watch the birds in your garden or local park for an hour. Last January, nearly 400,000 people spent an hour watching their local birds, collectively recording over 6 million birds in more than 200,000 gardens. The survey is very simple. All you need to do is watch your garden or local park for an hour on either Saturday 28 or Sunday 29 January, note down the birds you see and count the highest number of each species you see at any one time in the hour (this avoids counting the same birds twice). You can submit your results using an easy online form.

If you work with children or are involved in a children's group, you may be interested to find out more about the Big Schools' Birdwatch. It's the same idea - counting birds for one hour - but in schools! It's simple and easy to do, either as a one-off activity, or as part of the curriculum. Find out more by calling 08701 222793 and asking for a schools pack.

RSPB. 2006. Big Garden Birdwatch 2006. Viewed at http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/2006/index.asp on January 9th 2006.