Calling all East Sussex residents, release your inner ornithologist (a person who studies or is an expert on birds) by joining the Big Garden Bird Watch.
Be part of the world’s largest garden-wildlife survey by simply spending one hour counting the birds you see landing on your patch – you don’t need to have a garden, it can be in a park.
The event is running between Friday 24 January and Sunday 26 January and is free for everyone.
Your Birdwatch results will help the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) monitor how our UK birds are surviving in the face of the nature and climate emergency.
How to take part in Big Garden Birdwatch
Starlings are fantastic mimics and can copy other bird calls and even mechanical noises
You don’t need to be an RSPB member to take part, simply sign up on its website. You’ll then be sent everything you need to take part, including a chart to help you identify the birds and record what you see.
Then all you need to do is:
- spend an hour watching the birds in your patch, between 24 and 26 January, and record the birds that land in your space
- share your results (even if that’s nothing at all) online or by post.
By taking part in Big Garden Birdwatch you, and hundreds of thousands of other like-minded nature lovers, will be taking action to protect our birds for generations to come.
If you’d like to take part, the RSPB’s website has great tips on How to get ready for your Big Garden Birdwatch.
If you’re a teacher you can inspire your students with RSPB’s Big Schools’ Birdwatch.
Birdwatching tips
Blackbirds typically like to sing after rain
You don’t have to be a regular birdwatcher to take part. If you’ve not taken part before, the Sussex Wildlife Trust has put together a guide to watching and spotting birds. including top tips for making the most of the experience.
For example, if you have a garden, you might prefer to sit somewhere comfortable indoors where you have a good view of the feeders or the space you’re observing. Try not to be seen and try to keep as still as possible. The less the birds sense danger, the more comfortable they will be visiting your space.
If you’re outdoors, maybe find a park bench; we recommend taking a cushion and a hot water bottle so ensure you’re cosy.
If you can’t identify the bird at first, make a note of its colour, size, any unusual colours on its head or wings, and the type of beak it has. And is it alone or in a group? These will help you identify it later. The RSPB has a useful online British Bird Identifier to help you identify common birds, or if you’re lucky something a bit more unusual.
You can also identify birds by their call. For example, the Great Tit’s ‘teacher teacher’ call is easy to recognise, and the Collared Dove’s song is similar to a ‘un-it-ed, un-it-ed, un-it-ed’ football-fan chant. Learn more about identifying birds by their call.
Make them welcome
Now you’re set to conduct the birdwatching survey you’ll want to encourage our feathered friends to your patch.
If you provide for the birds, they will come – especially at this time of year when they’re busy spotting sources of food and potential nesting spots. If you have outdoor space put out some feeders with seeds, suet, fruit, peanuts (not salted), meal worms etcetra.
And you can have a lot of fun making your very own bird feeders out of recycled bits and pieces. The National Trust has a brilliant guide with some super ideas about how to make a recycled bird feeder. There are other tips on how to make your space more ‘bird friendly’ on the RSPB website.
What birds to look out for
Fun Fact: House Sparrows – Britain’s most common bird – have lived next to humans since the stone age.
The House Sparrow was the #1 bird in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2024 for East Sussex, seeing a 3.6% increase in sightings since 2023.
Although still declining in numbers, this little brown bird is a common sight in urban and rural areas throughout the UK, often found nesting in buildings, gardens, and parks. But their population declines are leading to concerns about their conservation status. They are now considered a species of conservation concern.
However, localised increases in populations such as East Sussex, demonstrate the potential for habitat management and conservation efforts to support their recovery.
Top five birds spotted UK wide in the 2024 Big Garden Birdwatch were:
- House Sparrow (1,442,300)
- Blue Tit (1,094,401)
- Starling (879,006)
- Woodpigeon (835,408)
- Blackbird (708,004)
See the top 10 birdwatch results for East Sussex from last year, January 2024.
More unusual birds
If you’re lucky, you might spot Nuthatches (climbing up the trunk of a tree), woodpeckers, and even a Fieldfare – a type of thrush rarely seen in gardens apart from in bad weather when access to their usual berries and feed is more difficult. And if you’re near a pond you might see a Heron, though they obviously won’t be after your feeder food, they’ll be eyeing a fish supper in the water.
Birds are wonderful little creatures and they all have different behaviours and personalities. Some are shy, some are bold. Some are bullish, some timid.
I find it so hard to sit still, not look at my mobile. But during the weekend of 24 to 26 January, I plan to allow myself an hour being quiet connecting with nature and wildlife.
Birdwatching is good for mental health
Watching the birds in your garden, park, on your balcony, or just from a window, can be much more than a bit of fun.
Getting back to nature is also a brilliant way of practicing mindfulness – slowing down and appreciating the beauty of wildlife. This can be great for our mental health.
The council has a number of resources to help you manage your mental health on our website.
Please comment below if you plan to record your own birdwatch, and especially if you completed one. We’d love to hear from you.
