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Big Garden Birdwatch:
Can’t wait until next year?
The RSPB’s Big
Garden Birdwatch is over for another year and, once again, thousands
of people took part in this great event. If you enjoyed doing it
and don’t want to wait another year for the next one then
why not take part in the BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch survey.
Each January hundreds
of thousands of people take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden
Birdwatch and this year was no different. This is a really great
scheme for people to get involved in and to discover more about
the birds around them. Participation often ignites an interest that
has lain dormant, especially in children, and it is important to
encourage that interest. So instead of waiting a whole year to do
it again, why not take part in the BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch survey
and make regular records of the birds that you see in your garden.
“Each January
we get a lot of enquiries from people who have thoroughly enjoyed
the RSPB’s Big Garden BirdWatch and who are looking to continue
watching their garden birds while still contributing to a national
survey. The year-round BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch survey provides exactly
this,” says Martin Fowlie from the Garden BirdWatch team.
But it’s not
just counting birds that people are interested in.
“Many people
also want information about feeding birds and how best to encourage
larger numbers and different species to their gardens. We provide
this along with other information such as our new Hygiene leaflet
which gives advice on how to make your feeding area a cleaner and
healthier place for birds to eat,” Martin adds. (see Notes
for Editors).
So if you enjoyed Big Garden Birdwatch and would like to do more
or if you just want information about making your garden more bird
friendly then the Garden BirdWatch team are happy to help.
For a free information
pack and leaflets about “Foods and feeding” and “Garden
Bird Hygiene and Disease” phone on 01842 750050, write to
GBW, Room 6, British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford,
Norfolk IP24 2PU or email
Notes for editors
1) The BTO/CJ
Garden BirdWatch. The BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch is the only
nationwide survey of garden birds to run weekly throughout the year,
providing important information on how birds use gardens, and how
this use changes over time. Currently, some 16,500 people take part
in the project across the British isles. 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. For more information see www.bto.org/gbw
2) CJ WildBird
Foods. CJ WildBird Foods is Europe’s leading supplier
of bird food and bird feeding products. CJ WildBird Foods has been
responsible for a number of significant developments within the
bird food and feeding industry, including the introduction of black
sunflower seeds to the UK as a major new bird food and the development
of specialist seed mixes for use in tubular feeders. The company
has also been supporting research into the changing fortunes of
garden bird populations, most notably through the BTO/CJ Garden
BirdWatch.
3) Feeding area hygiene
and disease prevention is especially important at this time of year
as birds get ready for the breeding season.
4) Colour photographs.
Images of garden birds are freely available for use in association
with this press release. Please contact
to request an electronic version.
5) Radio Interviews.
The BTO has a dedicated ISDN line available for radio interviews.
6) To download a copy
of this press release as a PDF click here
(36kb)
Contacts.
Martin Fowlie (BTO
Press Officer)
01842-750050 (office)
BTO Digital Image Library
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