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BIRD RESEARCHERS FOCUS ON NORTHERN IRELAND'S GARDENS The latest issue of the BTO’s Garden BirdWatch magazine, Bird Table, reports on those bird species found in the gardens of Northern Ireland, highlighting how important they are for a wide range of species. In view of these results, the BTO is seeking to recruit more Garden BirdWatchers within the Province. The British Trust for Ornithology monitors the changing fortunes of garden birds within Northern Ireland through its BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch project. The latest issue of the project magazine contains a regional focus on Northern Ireland and reveals that at this time of year, 95% of gardens have Blackbirds and 76% have House Sparrows. The ‘top ten’ garden bird species in Northern Ireland are:
Mike Toms of the BTO, who is coordinating the survey, said “Gardens in Northern Ireland lack some of the familiar species seen in gardens in England and Wales, such as Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Tawny Owl, all of which are absent from Ireland as a whole. However, many other species are very well represented (for example, Coal Tit) and there is plenty for garden birdwatchers in the Province to see.” “Although these results allow us to make general comparisons between Northern Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom, we would really like to be able to compare garden bird populations between different parts of Northern Ireland, for example between Armagh and Tyrone, and to do this we need more Garden BirdWatchers. If readers/listeners would like to know more about how to get involved in the project then they can request a free enquiry pack from GBW (NI), FREEPOST, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2BR, by emailing gbw@bto.org or by visiting our website www.bto.org/gbw.” Notes for editors 1. The BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch is the only nationwide survey of garden birds to run continually throughout the year, providing important information on how birds use gardens, and how this use changes over time. For more information : http://www.bto.org/gbw/ 2. Some 16,300 people take part in Garden BirdWatch nationwide and record the birds using their gardens from week to week. There are just 22 Garden BirdWatchers in Northern Ireland and we need to recruit more. 3. Garden birdwatchers can discover which birds are likely to be found in their gardens by visiting www.postcodebirds.bto.org and entering their postcode. 4. A free information pack on Garden BirdWatch is available from GBW (NI), FREEPOST, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2BR. 5. Colour photographs of garden birds are available for use in association with this press release. Please contact images@bto.org to request an electronic version. 6. The BTO/CJ Garden
BirdWatch is funded by participants’ contributions and supported
by CJ WildBird Foods Ltd and is the largest year round survey of
garden birds anywhere in the world. Contacts Mike Toms (Garden BirdWatch
Organiser) |
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