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Garden BirdWatch Instructions Completing the paper count form Errors If you have to return a form with a mistake that you cannot easily erase with white correcting tape or fluid, please enclose details of the correction(s) required (with your Garden BirdWatch Number, the year and quarter) on a separate piece of paper. Ideally, use a Post-it™ or attach the corrections with a paperclip. Do not staple or pin anything to the form and do not make any written notes on the form. Introduction to the Count Form Table A covers the ten most frequently seen garden birds, according to our pilot study. The size of the largest group of each species that you see together in your garden at any one time during the week is recorded, by marking one of the four “flock size” categories for that species. If you see two Blue Tits together on Sunday, “2” is your record for the week, unless you see four together on the following Thursday, for example, when your record for that week becomes “3-4”. Record the largest group seen in your notebook as the week progresses. At the end of the week, note the largest group seen during the seven days and transfer it to the form at that time if you like. Alternatively keep the form safe until the end of the quarter and transfer all your records in one go. Also mark the “weeks recorded” boxes to indicate when you recorded the birds. It does not matter if weeks are missed, just leave the “weeks recorded” box blank. Please do not make any written note or mark of holidays or other absence (or draw lines) on the form! In Table B the presence or absence of less-frequent species is indicated by marking the appropriate box for each count week they were seen. Leave the box blank if the species was not seen that week. In Table C the food and water that you provide (if any) is recorded weekly. It is not essential to provide food or water to participate in the survey. Your name and address in the box helps us keep track of your data. This is the only area of the form in which handwriting is permitted. Garden BirdWatch Number, and the quarter and year are vital and must be marked on both sides of the form. Please refer to the calendar sheet for week numbers and quarters. Step by step instructions: All count weeks start on Sunday, please refer to the separate calendar for week numbers. Mark the highest weekly counts of the “top ten” species in Table A. Please record the highest number of each bird seen together in your garden at any one time during each week. You may find it useful to keep a notebook to record the maximum numbers of each species you see each time you observe. The largest number noted for each species during the whole week becomes the number to mark on the form at the end of the week. Even if you know that more than one individual of a particular species is visiting your garden but you only see one of them at any time, the number recorded should be 1. If any of the birds was not seen in your garden at all in any week, do not mark any of that week’s boxes for that species. Mark each Table B species that was seen in your garden that week, otherwise leave blank. Table B lists the 31 next most frequent species (note that Marsh and Willow Tits have been lumped together because of the difficulty in telling them apart). If you see any of these species in your garden in a particular count week, simply mark the relevant box. Any species you see in your garden which are not listed in either Tables A or B can be recorded on the Scarcer Species Form. Elusive or nocturnal birds such as Wrens and Tawny Owls can be recorded if they are heard but not seen, if you can confidently identify their songs and calls and are certain they are using your garden as a resource. Do not, however, include those birds seen simply flying over your garden unless they are obviously on their way to visit it and use its resources. The major exception to this rule are birds such as Swallows, martins, Swifts and birds of prey which should be included if they are hunting over your garden - their prey counts as a resource provided by your garden. If you have Hooded Crow(s) in your garden, please mark as Carrion Crow. In Table C mark the food(s) and water, if any, provided during each week. Bread and any other food normally bought for human consumption count as “scraps”. If you use a modern, high-quality bird seed mixture count it as “Seed mix no cereal”, even if it contains small amounts of flaked maize, oatmeal, millet, etc. “Seed mix with cereal” means a traditional grain-based mixture containing a significant proportion of wheat grain or other coarse, dry cereal grains. The line marked “for special project use” should be left blank (until we ask you to help with a special project in the future, which will be announced in Bird Table). If you have a pond, please mark “water” every week. If you wish, you can download the Garden BirdWatch instructions as a PDF for easy storage and printing.
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