Birds will be flocking to gardens and greenspaces in search of tasty treats as nature’s natural food sources run low. As your feeder welcomes new guests, why not join in with the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch – the world’s largest garden wildlife survey?

Having attracted one million participants – including nearly 16,500 people taking part across Dorset – in 2021, you can join 2022’s Big Garden Birdwatch event by simply recording the birds you see land in your garden, balcony or local park and sending your results to the RSPB.

On hand to help you connect with the nature in your garden, the charity has a range of resources at rspb.org.uk, including their handy bird identification guide at rspb.org.uk/birdidentifier to help you get started.

The survey takes just an hour to complete and the nature conservation charity uses the records to help monitor bird trends across Dorset and the country as a whole.

Being on the south coast, keep your eyes peeled for unusual migratory bird species that often travel to our shores from overseas to make the most of our milder winters. Birds such as chiffchaffs, redwings, bramblings and fieldfares may join your familiar garden friends, especially if food shortages on the continent have forced them to come in search of food.

Just sixty minutes every year, for the last four decades, has made the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch the largest garden wildlife citizen science project. Now in its 43rd year, over 150 million birds have been counted giving the RSPB an astonishing amount of insight into how our wildlife is faring.

Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s Chief Executive, said: “We were blown away by the enthusiasm with which people took part in the Birdwatch in 2021. We know that for many people, garden birds provide an important connection to the wider natural world and bring enormous joy. Over the last year, there has been a broad and much-needed realisation that nature is an important and necessary part of our lives especially for our mental health and wellbeing. But nature needs us too.

“By taking part in the Birdwatch, you are helping to build an annual snapshot of how our birdlife is doing across the UK. It is only by us understanding how our wildlife is faring that we can protect it. We know that nature is in crisis but together, we can take action to solve the problems facing nature.”

For four decades, Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world. Last year, the house sparrow was top of Dorset’s rankings as the most commonly seen garden bird. The starling and blue tit completed the top three.

House sparrows and starlings are the UK’s most sighted birds, but a closer look at Big Garden Birdwatch data shows that numbers have in fact dropped dramatically since the Birdwatch began in 1979. House sparrows are down 58% while starlings are down 83%.

To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2022, watch the birds in your garden or local park for one hour at some point over the three days. Only count the birds that land, not those flying over. Tell us the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour.

Beccy added: “Whether you saw one blackbird, twenty starlings or no birds whatsoever, it is really valuable information as it helps us build a picture of how our garden birds are faring from one year to the next.”

For your free Big Garden Birdwatch guide, which includes a bird identification chart, top tips for your birdwatch, RSPB shop voucher, plus advice on how to help you attract wildlife to your garden, text BIRD to 70030 or visit  www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

If you’re still unsure about what a bird might be, why not snap a photograph? You can send it to the RSPB via Facebook or Twitter (@rspbengland) where the charity’s friendly experts will be on hand to help all year round.