Birdwatchers and conservation charities have highlighted the need for everyone’s involvement in the fight to protect birds from population decline in the UK.
On the weekend of the 23 to 25 of January, volunteers around the country took part in the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ (RSPB) Big Garden Birdwatch.
The Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest annual garden wildlife survey, where participants spend one hour that weekend counting and identifying different birds that land in their garden or local park.
Afterwards, the information is sent to the RSPB to help them monitor the number of birds in the UK.
This type of citizen survey is used by many different wildlife organisations for their research, including the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).
This push for ordinary people’s involvement comes as many different native bird species face population decline.
Since 1980, one in six birds in the UK has been lost.
Furthermore, some of the main issues facing birds in the UK are habitat loss, climate change and UK farming practices, including the increased use of pesticides.
Jon Carter, media manager and spokesperson for the BTO, said: “Birds. Science. People.
“We have to make those things work together for the benefit of everybody and nature, too.
“It is essential that we get everybody onboard that we can to help really paint a better future for birds.”
Follow the South West Londoner as we speak to an RSPB birdwatcher in Richmond Park, as well as the BTO, about why they need everyone to work together to save birds in the UK:
Featured image credit: Saskia Lonergan
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