Enjoying your garden and the wildlife in it
Garden BirdWatch is all about spending time enjoying watching your garden wildlife, and then using this to help us collect the information we need for research into garden ecology. All you need to take part is a garden, an interest in garden wildlife and a little bit of time to spend recording. You don’t have to provide food for birds and your garden doesn’t have to be big. All types of garden are welcome!
Contribute to important research and learning
The data collected by GBW helps us discover how wildlife uses the areas around our homes, and therefore how we can improve our gardens, towns and cities for wildlife. As well as helping with important research, Garden Birdwatch is a great way to learn more about birds and other wildlife in your garden, to watch with a purpose, and to understand the annual cycles that you see. It is also a good way of introducing others in your family to garden wildlife.
Record as often as you like
Many people enjoy making weekly bird lists, but it’s fine to send in lists less regularly. We also welcome people who join without sending in counts, supporting the project financially and receiving the quarterly magazine.
Self-funded by generosity
Garden BirdWatch is self-funded through the generosity of its participants. In return for an annual membership of £17, you'll receive:
- A welcome pack containing a free book ‘Garden Birds and Wildlife’
- Bird Table magazine, four times a year
- Access to our online data entry system to keep a record of all your sightings
- Access to the BTO’s team of garden bird experts.
Find out more with a free information pack
Request a free information pack and receive a free issue of Bird Table – the magazine that paying Garden BirdWatch supporters receive quarterly.
It’s free
During the exceptional situation caused by COVID-19 we are temporarily waiving the fee to join GBW. Due to our constrained working arrangements at this time, new joiners will not receive the joining pack, book and quarterly Bird Table magazines that are normally included.