Garden BirdWatch (GBW)

Garden BirdWatch monitors the changing fortunes of birds and other garden wildlife through its network of 'citizen scientists'. Observations collected by BTO Garden BirdWatchers are analysed by BTO researchers and published in leading journals. BTO Garden BirdWatchers have charted the decline of the House Sparrow, the rise of the Woodpigeon, have discovered that urban birds get up later than their rural counterparts and have alerted conservationists to the impact of an emerging disease in Greenfinches.

Latest News 

Birds of a different feather

 

Latest results from the BTO Abnormal Plumage Survey have just been published. The survey, which is charting birds with unusual plumage characteristics in gardens, has had a brilliant response with some 700 people having taken part in a matter of weeks.

If you have ever seen a bird with unusual plumage in your garden, and you have not yet taken part in this simple survey, please get involved. Please post any photos to the Garden BirdWatch Flickr group or email them to gbw [at] bto [dot] org – see unusual-looking birds in our Abnormal Plumage Survey gallery.

Know your thrushes

 

This time of year can see an influx of Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush into gardens, as food in the wider countryside is depleted. Both species have also been particularly noticeable of late, singing amidst the unseasonably mild winter weather.

Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush can be difficult to distinguish so, to help, the BTO Garden Ecology Team has produced a free guide. With the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch just around the corner, now is a great time for you, friends and family to hone your thrush ID skills. If you would like a copy of the guide to be posted to you, please email gbw [at] bto [dot] org.

View the BTO’s Song Thrush vs. Mistle Thrush BTO ID video. 

Trichomonisis spreads across Northern Europe 

 

Trichomonas gallinae, the parasite which brought about the much publicised decline in Greenfinch numbers within Britain, has now been found in Fennoscandia. New research, which uses BTO ringing data, suggests that it most likely reached Fennoscandia via migratory Chaffinches from Britain. Find out more about this work. The BTO’s Garden Ecology Team has been working with other organisations to look at this topic, something that is particularly pertinent at this time of the year. Report a diseased bird through our online form or find out more about the diseases and things you can do to help. 

Give the gift of Garden BirdWatch

 

Our smart new presentation pack means that you can now give the gift of BTO Garden BirdWatch to a friend or relative. The pack, which retails at £19.95, contains all that is needed to get started recording garden wildlife. Once the activation card is returned, the recipient will be sent a free copy of the acclaimed Garden Birds & Wildlife and four quarterly issues of Bird Table magazine. Order your copy today.

The pack contains: an annual sunscription to GBW, a welcome letter, an activation card, a quick start guide, instructions, advice on feeding and attracting garden birds and a car sticker. Return the activation card to receive a free copy of Garden Birds and Wildlife, four quarterly issues of Bird Table magazine, access to BTO experts, access to GBW Online.