Big Garden Birdwatch and Other Surveys

Over the last week we have been involving ourselves with various different volunteer wildlife surveys. The work of many wildlife organisations is greatly enhanced by members of the public going out to their local area and providing the experts with valuable and widespread data. Getting lots of people involved also means that more people understand the importance of the work the different organisations are doing. They are a lot of fun and can creates a bit of extra meaning to the outdoor experience.

Doing the Big Garden Birdwatch in Our Local Park

Robin

As part of my job I co-run a year 7 science club. On Wednesday 27^th January our activity was to do the Big Schools Birdwatch. I took a total of 29 year 7's out side into the school grounds bird watching. The students had a fabulous time looking, identifying and counting all the birds on the school site. Most of the students were not aware of quite how many species of bird there were to be found around the school. A total of 12 species were spotted! It was a real privilege providing them with that opportunity and getting them closer to the local wildlife. Whilst I was outside with the small groups birdwatching the rest of the students were making bird feeders. This was in order to take home so they could participate in the Big Garden Birdwatch. I hope that we inspired many of them to get involved!

Year 7's Preparation for the Birdwatch

A Pied Wagtail at The Chase

Inspired by the enthusiasm of the year 7 students I was very excited to carry out the Big Garden Birdwatch myself. Due to not actually having a meaningful garden to watch birds in we headed to the park. Our local green space is Fort Royal Park in the centre of Worcester. Despite the weather being bitterly cold we were not put off and had a lot of fun counting the maximum number of each species at any one time. This was a relatively difficult task for us as it was particularity windy. We did manage to spot a total of 14 species.

Blue Tit At Fort Royal Park

A unusual flyover of Geese - Not counted!!

The RSPB survey started in 1979 and has given us valuable information in the changes of bird life in our gardens over the last 36 years. Unfortunately lots of the results of the surveys have been disappointing, such as a 80% decline in starlings, 70% decline in song thrushes and a 58% decline in House Sparrows. To be a little positive there has been an increase in the numbers of Blue Tits and Goldfinches.

Carrying Out The Birdwatch

Another survey that I have carried out is a survey that is looking into the numbers of Pochards. Pochards are beautiful little diving ducks that spend their winters on the waters of Britain. We are lucky to have good numbers of they visiting my Birding patch at Grimley. The survey is the count the flock size and the sex ratio. Male Pochards tend to dominate the more productive wintering sites that are closer to the breeding sites. This means that the females have to travel further and potentially increasing the chance of predation and fatigue. This contributes to the differences in the male and female numbers of Pochards. The survey will help give information about the population structures and understand the changes in survival rates between the sexes. At Grimley there where more males than females!

Pochard

House Sparrow in Fort Royal Park

The final survey is one that I have not, as yet, had an opportunity to get involved with. It is a survey to record the location of starling murmurations for the University of Gloucestershire and the Royal Society of Biology. Starlings carry out magnificent aerial displays, murmurations, which are breath taking to watch. However, we are not really sure why they do them. In addition, starling numbers are in critical decline. The survey hopes to help build a greater understanding as to why starlings do these murmurations and why the numbers of starlings are declining sharply. Unfortunately, this year I have yet to observe a murmuration. Perhaps this is as a result of their decline!

 Picture The Garden Birdwatch by a Friends Daughter

I have been really encouraged by the numbers of people who have been sharing their experiences of getting involved. I have been inspired by the number of young children who have enjoyed the experience. For me these surveys have two aims. First to get widespread information to get a national picture in the changes to our wildlife. The second is to engage the wider public in wildlife , conservation and scientific issues. As a scientist I feel it is so important to engage as many people in the scientific process as possible; science is for everyone. These surveys do just that and they also encourage people to get out and enjoy the wildlife on their door steps, something we all need more of.

Snowdrops Fort Royal Park