Link to newsround

How you can join in the Big Garden Birdwatch

Girl and father watching birds Getty Images

Do you like to spot birds in your garden or outdoor space?

The RSPB's annual Big Garden Birdwatch is back this weekend, and they are asking for your help.

Over the past 45 years RSPB have invited bird lovers to unite and help in the world's largest garden wildlife survey.

The survey asks volunteers to track the birds living in their gardens and green spaces and it helps the RSPB to keep across any changes in garden bird numbers.

But, why is the big birdwatch such a BIG deal and how can you get involved?

Find out below and let us know in the comments if you join in.

Why is the Big Garden Birdwatch important?

Child on path feeding pigeons Getty Images

Last year over half a million people across the UK took part in the RSPB's Birdwatch, and a similar number joined in the year before.

Together they counted a massive 9.1 million birds!

This massive amount of data about types and numbers of birds spotted gives the charity an enormous amount of information about which birds are doing well, and which ones might be struggling and in need of some extra help.

Three house sparrows perching on fence Getty Images

The house sparrow is one of the most spotted birds in the UK

Whilst house sparrows took the top spot of birds spotted in 2025, the number of them counted was still down 60% compared to the first Birdwatch in 1979.

It is believed that we have lost 38 million birds from the UK's skies in the last 60 years.

RSPB say it is just as important to mark down the birds you don't see in your garden and local green spaces, as this can tell them a lot about what's happening to bird populations in the UK.

Most spotted birds in 2025

Page from the RSPB guide showing some different types of bird RSPB

The RSPB's guide shows you some of the types of birds you might see

  1. House Sparrow

  2. Blue Tit

  3. Wood pigeon

  4. Starling

  5. Blackbird

Source: RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

When is the Big Birdwatch happening and how can you take part?

Bird watching sheet and hand with pen Eleanor Bentall/RSPB

The RSPB wants to know which birds you spot in your garden and local green spaces

This year's watch takes place between 23 and 25 January 2026.

Anyone can take part, you can do it individually or in a group. If you're doing it as a group the RSPB ask you to only submit one set of results.

The only requirement is you spend one hour watching and recording the birds that land in one location, that can be in the garden, on the balcony, outside your window, or in the local park or green space while you're out and about.

When you have finished recording, you then need to send the results to the RSPB either online or by post.

Are you a bird lover? Will you be taking part? Let us know in the comments below...