Garden BirdWatch is run by
the British Trust for Ornithology in partnership with CJ Bird Foods Ltd. It is a
year-round project that gathers important information on how different species
of birds use gardens and how this use changes over time. Gardens are an
important habitat for many wild birds, providing a useful refuge for those
affected by changes in the management of our countryside.
Some 16,500 participants
in the UK currently take part in Garden BirdWatch and send in simple weekly records of
the bird species using their gardens. This information is either submitted on
paper count forms or by using Garden BirdWatch Online. Each participant also
supports the project financially through an annual contribution of £15. In
return, they receive the quarterly colour magazine Bird Table, count forms and
access to advice on feeding and attracting garden birds.
All new joiners will
receive a free copy of
the 128-page BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch Book which normally retails for £9.99
(plus p&p).
Garden
BirdWatch is all about getting involved and gathering useful information using
simple recording techniques. The forms are easy to complete and all you need to
do is keep a simple note of the birds seen during the course of the week. You
can note the birds you see over your morning cup of coffee or while working in
the garden. How much time you spend recording is up to you. All we ask is that
you are consistent from one week to the next.
Your
Garden BirdWatch observations can either be submitted over the Internet on a
weekly basis, or by using special paper forms that cover a 13-week period. The
observations that are received are added to the national Garden BirdWatch
database, building up a pattern, showing how bird species change their use of
gardens throughout the year and from one year to the next.
Collectively
the Garden BirdWatch results can be used to stimulate research into declining
species and to inform conservationists of action that needs to be taken.
For more information
click this link http://www.bto.org/gbw/index.htm