The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is back for 2024 - giving you the chance to take part in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey.

People can take part at home by watching their garden or visiting a local park.

Participants need to spend an hour counting the birds that land in their garden, before sending the results to RSPB.

You should log the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour, and avoid counting the birds that simply fly over.

The event takes place across January 26, 27 and 28.

2024 marks 45 years since the first Big Garden Birdwatch. 

Starting in 1979, it has since become a much-loved annual citizen science event, that gives the RSPB a valuable snapshot of how garden birds are doing in the UK. 

Over that time, 185 million birds have been counted and nearly 11.5 million hours spent watching and counting garden birds.

With birds now facing so many challenges due to the nature and climate emergency, every count matters.

More than 15,000 people across West Yorkshire took part in 2023's survey, with the House Sparrow taking the top spot as the most commonly seen bird.

You can find out more by visiting www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch