The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ (RSPB) Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from 27 to 29 January 2018 and aims to gather valuable information from more than half a million participants on the state of British birds and wildlife.

It will be the 39th time the RSPB has run the initiative, with 2017’s Birdwatch revealing that the top three most common birds in the country were the house sparrow, starling and blackbird. It also uncovered an explosion in the population of waxwings – an attractive-looking bird that flocks to UK gardens once every seven years when berry falls drop in their native Scandinavia.

Daniel Hayhow, RSPB Conservation Scientist, said: “The birds we see in our garden are often the first experience we have with nature – whether it’s a flock of starlings at the feeder, a robin perched on the fence or some house sparrows splashing in the bird bath. But it may come as a surprise to know that some of our most-loved species are in desperate need of our help as their numbers have dropped dramatically.
“The Big Garden Birdwatch is a great opportunity to get involved with helping our garden wildlife. By counting the birds that visit your outdoor space, you’ll be joining a team of more than half a million people across the UK who are making a difference for nature.”

Be sure to keep a lookout for a special birdwatching feature in the January 2018 issue of Camping & Caravanning.