Watch out for birds in your garden (From The Oxford Times)

Watch out for birds in your garden

4:45pm Friday 6th January 2012 in Outdoors By Oliver Evans

AMATEUR ornithologists are being urged to polish their binoculars and keep the last weekend of the month free for a massive garden birdwatching survey.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is urging people to log the feathered friends that arrive in their back garden on January 28 and 29 for its annual Big Garden Birdwatch event. It has taken place every year since 1979 to paint a picture of the UK’s garden bird population.

Last year’s event saw more than 11,000 county residents record a resurgence in small birds, with the house sparrow the most sighted.

The event helps provide a picture of the UK’s bird population to lobby Government over the protection of endangered species.

Among those taking part will be Chipping Norton resident Steve Akers with wife Sharon and sons Rory, nine and Louis, seven.

The Unison official hit the headlines last year when birdwatchers flocked to his garden in The Leys to see a rare Oriental Turtle Dove.

He said: “I do it religiously every year.

“It is a very pleasurable thing to sit down and take the time to focus for an hour.”

The 56-year-old said: “I have been watching birds since I was eight and I have seen a really significant decline in what were very common birds.”

The loss of birds like the Skylark and Turtle Dove was because of destruction of habitats and use of chemicals by farms, he said.

Zoe Edwards, who works at the RSPB Otmoor nature reserve near Beckley, urged residents to take part.

She said: “It helps the RSPB to keep track of the ups and downs of garden birds and gives people the opportunity to enjoy outside spaces.

“I don’t think people are aware of how many birds there are in their garden.

“If you take time to sit and watch you will see so many.”

The milder winter could see a change in species this year, she said.

• A counting sheet with pictures of species can be downloaded from the RSPB website and those taking part will also be able to submit results online.

Alternatively, call 0300 456 8330.

• Schools can also record results from January 16 to 30. For information, see the Schoolswatch webpage or call 0300 456 8340.