RSPB launches summer garden wildlife survey – Not just birds

08/06/2009 09:29:47 Make your nature count

June 2009. A massive stock take of summer wildlife is taking place this week as the RSPB launches its new survey, Make your nature count.

Running from 8th -14th June, it is the first time the charity has asked people to count the wildlife in their gardens over the summer. The RSPB hopes Make your nature count will build a picture of the wildlife visiting gardens and define how important gardens are for some of our breeding birds and summer migrants.

Reptiles, amphibians & mammals
It's not only birds people are being asked to record. The RSPB also wants to know about some of the other wildlife visiting gardens, like frogs, toads, squirrels and even badgers.

At this time of year, gardens are alive with young birds and the RSPB is asking people to record blackbird, robin and song thrush chicks. Song thrush numbers have declined by 50% across the UK since the 1970's, but in recent years have started to make a bit of a recovery. Counting young birds will help give an indication of how successfully they are breeding across the UK.

This year, the RSPB celebrated 30 years of its Big Garden Birdwatch. More than half a million people took part. Big Garden Birdwatch has identified trends among wintering bird populations, and it's hoped Make your nature count will provide a similar snapshot of summer wildlife.

Jonathan Osborne, RSPB Scotland's head of people engagement, said: "Each year hundreds of thousands of people take part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch. Afterwards they always ask for more. Well, this year that's exactly what we're offering. The chance to tell us about the wildlife they see in their gardens over the summer."

Goldfinches
Alongside common birds such as blackbirds and blue tits, the RSPB predicts good things for goldfinches. Since 1994, numbers have increased by 39% in the UK and are increasingly being seen in gardens, possibly due to more nyjer seed being used in feeders. Long-distance migrants like swift and house martins are also likely to be seen in flight over gardens.

Chris Packham
Chris Packham, RSPB vice-president and BBC Springwatch presenter, said: "Gardens are teeming with wildlife in the summer and we finally have the perfect excuse to sit back and enjoy it. But as well as giving us an excuse to discover an amazing variety of creatures, it will also help with the hugely important task of monitoring which species are thriving in our gardens and which might need a helping hand in the future."

1 hour needed
To take part, simply spend one hour during the week of 8-14 June, counting the birds and any other wildlife that visit your garden, and record the highest number of each species seen at any one time.

Jonathan added: "We hope thousands of people will make their nature count and let us know what crawls, hops, flutters and flies in their garden."

For further information about Make your nature count and an online survey form click here. 

Alternatively, Make your nature count forms can be obtained by phoning 0300 456 8330. The hotline number will be operational until 10 June 2009.