The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, the ‘world’s largest garden wildlife survey’, is set to return later this month, and people in East Lancashire are being urged to take part.
In 2024, more than 600,000 people across the UK participated, counting more than nine million birds, and more than 12,000 people took part in Lancashire alone.
This year, the event is scheduled for January 24, 25, and 26.
Participants are encouraged to spend an hour watching and counting birds in their garden, from their balcony, or at a local park, and then submit their results to the RSPB.
The event, which started in 1979, provides a ‘valuable snapshot’ of the UK’s garden bird population.
More than 195 million birds have been counted, and nearly 12.1 million hours spent watching and counting.
Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s chief executive, said: “At its heart, Big Garden Birdwatch is an opportunity for people to spend an hour watching, enjoying, and connecting with the wildlife on their doorstep.
“By taking part in the Birdwatch, you and hundreds of thousands of other nature lovers across the UK, play an important role in helping us understand how garden birds are doing.”
Last year’s results revealed the house sparrow as the most commonly spotted bird, despite having suffered ‘severe’ declines, with average numbers dropping 60 per cent since the first Big Garden Birdwatch.
Ms Speight said: “Whether you live in a city or the countryside, anyone, anywhere can take part in Big Garden Birdwatch – even if you don’t have a garden.
“Join us for Big Garden Birdwatch 2025 and together let’s take action to help birds and other wildlife thrive for generations to come.”