Article written by Elaine Hoyle.
Elaine is the local Ambassador for the BTO Garden Birdwatch, Natural History Curator for Whitby Museum and a member of Whitby Naturalists.
Citizen Science in Action
The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has run the year-round Garden Birdwatch scheme since 1995. The aim is to better understand the importance of gardens as habitat and how birds and other wildlife interact with them.
BTO’s Garden Birdwatch differs from the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch in that data is collected weekly, throughout the year, whereas the RSPB scheme concentrates on just one weekend at a certain time of year. Both schemes have significant value in helping to see how, for example, populations are changing and help to inform how we can best help them. One recent outcome has been the publishing of a paper about the emergence of finch trichomonosis, caused by a parasite, which has caused mortality on an epidemic level. This has subsequently driven new guidelines on the feeding of garden birds, in the hope that the spread of this deadly condition is reduced.
Registering
Go to www.bto.org/gbw or scan the QR code below:
You will need to register, which is free, using a user name and a password of your choice. This will ask only a few details. You can’t access the survey without registering but don’t let this put you off; the process is very straightforward.
You will have the opportunity to tell the BTO about your garden (size, planting, ponds etc).
Taking Part
You do not need to be an expert. Keep a list of the different birds that you recognise and see using your garden over the course of a week. GBW runs from Sunday to Sunday. You don’t need to do this every week but it helps.
If you want, you can also record other wildlife such as bees, frogs etc.
Count the maximum number of each species that you see at any one time.
Make a note if you see any wildlife disease.
It does not matter how much or little (or nothing at all) visits your garden. A record is still a record.
You will receive a weekly e-newsletter which, together with information and tips, will invite you to enter data. You will be able to see previous counts and totals as you progress. Each year, you will receive a total count for your garden.
Help
As local Ambassador for the BTO Garden Birdwatch, I would be really happy to talk you through any queries that you may have, either with registration or identification, and to do a trial Birdwatch with you, if you want. If you have any questions or simply want more information, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Elaine Hoyle, at piggy112264@gmail.com.
The American poet Mary Oliver remarked that pausing to observe nature is the first step to protecting and conserving it.
“Attention is the beginning of devotion” she wrote.