It’s the annual Great Garden Birdwatch this weekend when Action for Wildlife Jersey invites everyone to spend an hour observing and recording birds.
Participants are encouraged to observe and record the birds for 60 minutes, between 8am and 11am on either Saturday 3rdor Sunday 4th February. They are asked to note the variety of birds they see, along with the maximum number of each species observed at any one time. Those without a garden are encouraged to watch birds from a balcony or park perhaps grabbing a tea or coffee whilst they settle into a comfortable seat with the garden bird guide, which can be found online.
This is the 23rd Great Garden Birdwatch and the collected data will shed light on how our feathered friends are faring and what we can do to ensure their continued presence in our lives.
Last year’s count revealed that some species, like the wood pigeon, have increased in numbers whereas others, such as the collared dove, have declined. The fluctuating numbers of chaffinch, greenfinch and the rise of the goldfinch highlight the dynamic nature of our ecosystem.
Andrew Koester, Action for Wildlife, said: ‘Everyone who takes part in the count is a citizen scientist and doing their own small bit to help us understand our garden birds that bit better. Last year 244 households counted their birds and sent in their results. That’s pretty good and it gave us lots of birding records to analyse.’
He added that the fun event also reminded us of how important birds are in our lives.
‘The simple act of watching and recording not only aids in conservation but enriches our understanding and appreciation of nature.’
Mike Stentiford MBE, Jersey National Park, agreed.
‘The Great Garden Birdwatch not only connects us with the beauty of nature but also reminds us of our responsibility towards these vital members of our ecosystem. Their presence and health are indicators of the wellbeing of our environment.’
Those wishing to take part can use the survey form available online Jersey Great Garden BirdWatch Survey Form 2024 or as a hard copy to record their sightings. Results can be submitted via email to afw.jersey@outlook.com or through Action for Wildlife Jersey’s Facebook page.
