Anyone who lives in Bristol can take part, you don't have to be an expert. All we want you to do is to keep an eye on your garden birds over the winter months and record what you see. A simple form is provided for you to print off and send in to us. Alternatively, you can complete our online enquiry form to request a Bristol Bird Watch pack to be sent to you in the post.
Bristol Bird Watch will run every winter, so we can compare bird numbers from year to year. We will let you know what we find. So why not have a go and tell us about your garden birds. We hope you enjoy taking part and become a regular Bristol Bird Watcher.
Indicators of Change
Bird numbers are not just worth monitoring for their own sake, but for
what they tell us about the health of our environment. They allow us to
detect changes and provide an early warning when things are wrong.
In recent years there have been some worrying trends. House sparrow, starling and song thrush numbers have dropped by over 50% and blackbirds by 30%. These once common birds are now cause for concern. Their declines have tied in with modern farming and the use of chemicals and pesticides.
But it is not all bad news, other birds such as blue tits, pied wagtails, robins and chaffinches have seen an increase in their numbers. One factor may be garden feeding helping them to survive at difficult times of year.
Update
This is the third year of Bristol Bird Watch. In the last two years:
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Over 3,000 people have taken part in the survey
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We have discovered vital new information about Bristol's garden birds
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Results are being used to help monitor the health of the local environment
Keep watch
We want to make this year even bigger and better still. If you are a regular
Bristol Bird Watcher, we hope you will take part again this year. If you
are new we look forward to hearing from you.
Important
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Please only record birds using your garden - NOT birds flying over it.
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The weekend counts count! The number of sparrows, starlings and feral pigeons are changing, counting helps us find out why
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Flocks of sparrows and starlings are hard to count, but please estimate - for over ten birds estimate to the nearest five e.g. 15, 20 and so on.
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Extra notes are always useful - if you see something interesting let us know!
Feed the Birds
You may think your garden is too small or boring to attract birds. But it is amazing how many can be seen if you put out food for them to eat.
Top tips
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Provide a good mix of suitable foods. Suitable foods include black sunflower seeds, grain mixes and good quality peanuts (beware, avoid cheap peanuts which may be infected with aflotoxin, a toxin harmful to birds)
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Don't put out salted snacks, highly flavoured foods, whole bacon rinds or unsoaked dessicated coconut which can be harmful
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As a special treat, try sultanas, mild grated cheese, mealworms, and soft apples and pears cut in half
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Put out food all year round, reduce at quiet times. In severe winter weather, feed twice a day
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Always have clean water for bathing and drinking
Bristol Bird Watch & Local Agenda 21
Bristol Bird Watch is run by Avon Wildlife Trust in partnership with Bristol Naturalists Society, Bristol Ornithological Club and Bristol City Council.
Bristol Bird Watch is contributing to Bristol's Local Agenda 21 Strategy for sustainable development. The Strategy identifies wild bird numbers as the headline indicator for biodiversity. This, together with other indicators, such as the number of vehicles will help monitor the health of Bristol's environment.
Illustrations • Amy Wynn