Counting the Birds

Image by weaverbl at Pixabay

We all love to see the birds. I know what pleasure it has always given me to watch them, though with a predatory cat on the loose, I am not inclined to furnish a bird table with tasty treats. These days, often to my neighbours’ dismay, I love to watch the seagulls and the crows trying to outwit each other for a few tempting chunks of biscuit or bread. The moggy knows to leave them well alone.

Proper birdwatchers and novices alike, the Welsh Government has been encouraging us to get involved in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch initiative.

Last year, this birdwatch survey which began in 1979 was the biggest ever with more than a million people taking part. We now know how many took part this January 2022.

Of the 17 million birds surveyed  last year, house sparrow, blue tit, starling, blackbird and woodpigeon were the most recorded.

That is great news, but sadly since the surveying started more than 38 million birds have disappeared. The losses of greenfinches and chaffinches are most concerning to the charity, and it is hoped that recording and registering birds for just one hour each year in green spaces will allow us to keep track of how our feathered friends are doing.

To find out more and to discover the results of this year’s survey go to https://www.rspb.org.uk/