What skills do I need to take part?

Anyone with to a garden, an interest in garden birds and able to recognise a Blackbird by sight, including reliably separating adult male, adult female and juveniles, was able to take part in the Blackbirds in Gardens survey.

We provided a simple identification guide to Blackbirds of both ages and sexes along with some confusion species.

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How much time does it take?

Taking part in the Blackbirds in Gardens survey had a target of one 15-minute survey per week throughout the survey period (April–September). However, it was possible to miss weeks and/or  undertake multiple surveys within a week.

The survey week ran from Sunday to Saturday, and was designed to fit around everyday life activities – it could be done at any time of day, and at different times each week.

Collecting and submitting data

Survey instructions

Each weekly 15-minute survey count was split into three five-minute segments and could start at any time of day.

We have provided an example blank recording sheet to help recording surveys offline.

During each five-minute segment, we asked you to record:

• The peak counts of adult males, adult females, juveniles and any unknowns seen at any one time across the segment within your garden recording area.
• If you observed Blackbirds doing any of the following behaviours:
  • Foraging for natural food
  • Using supplementary food (e.g. bird food or scraps you have put out)
  • Feeding young/carrying food
  • Using a man-made birdbath
  • Using a pond or puddle
  • Territorial chasing (note we are not specifically recording singing)
  • Carrying nesting material
• An overall peak count of the most individuals seen at any one time (across all ages/sexes). This is the maximum count of Blackbirds you saw at any one time and may be different to the sum of the age/sex totals.

Were zero counts useful?

Yes! Even if you didn’t see a Blackbird during your survey this was still important information for understanding how Blackbirds are faring and how they use gardens. In particular Blackbird numbers in gardens naturally fall in gardens in late summer before starting to rise again in the mid-autumn and we are keen to pinpoint when this happens.

Project results

We will report back to all survey participants with the overall survey results during Autumn/Winter 2025. We will also report on any subsequent publications using data from this survey.

Resources

• Survey recording sheet (PDF)
• View and enter your data - read our data entry guide for full instructions.
• Frequently asked questions (PDF)

How to sign up

This survey is now closed.