If you enjoy watching and feeding your garden birds over the winter months, then you’re well placed to take part in the Irish Garden Bird Survey, which is back right now!
The survey is a great way to get to grips with what’s going on in your garden, and most importantly you’ll be providing us with really valuable information on how some of our favourite bird species are doing this winter. The survey is very straightforward and it’s open to absolutely everyone in Ireland!
This is the 31st year that we’ve been running the Irish Garden Bird Survey, which is kindly sponsored by The Ballymaloe Group. All you have to do is write down the birds using your garden each week between the start of December and end of February. Don’t worry if you’ll be away for a few of those weeks – just do as many weeks as you can, and it’s entirely up to you how much time you spend watching your birds each week!
To download the survey form pictured, click here.
Alternatively you can click here and enter your counts online.
You count the highest number of each species that you see at any one time each week – so take a quick look out your window now (or in the morning if it’s dark when you’re reading this…) and whatever numbers you get of each species, you’re trying to see if you can top that number for the rest of the week. Then, start over again next week!
For full details on how to take part in the survey, click here.
If you’re already taking part in the survey, why not spread the word to family and friends to get them to take part? It can be very interesting to have someone to compare gardens and results with as the winter goes on! It doesn’t matter if you have a big garden or a tiny one, or if you put out loads of bird food or don’t put out any at all – we need as many different types of gardens to take part in the survey to make it representative of the entire country.
If you have any queries about taking part in the survey, email Brian Burke (Irish Garden Bird Survey Coordinator) at gardenbirds@birdwatchireland.ie
