The Big Garden Birdwatch asks for help - from Surrey and Hampshire locals
This the world's largest garden wildlife survey
Last updated 29th Jan 2024
The Big Garden Birdwatch is underway - and Surrey and East Hampshire residents have been urged to get involved.
This the world's largest garden wildlife survey - and helps to build a picture of how birds are coping with climate change.
People in Surrey are asked to spend an hour watching and counting the birds in their garden, balcony or local park, then send their results to the RSPB.
Information collected here is then used to influence conservation efforts, to stop bird populations declining.
Over half a million people took part in 2023, counting more than nine million birds.
In Surrey, more than 14,000 people took part, with the Blue Tit taking the top spot as the most commonly seen bird, followed by House Sparrow and Woodpigeon.
Morwenna Alldis from the Royal Society of Protection for Birds tells us:
"Shockingly we have lost over 38 million birds from our UK skies in the last 50 years - whenever I say that stat, it sends a shiver through me.
"This is due to the climate and nature emergency we are currently going through.
"It may seem like counting the birds in your local park or garden for an hour - what does that really do?
"Well, it allows us to identify those birds that are struggling, that really need our help.
"Then when we identify those, we can better target our conservation efforts to those species."