With COVID-19 meaning we are all spending almost, if not, all of our time at home, it is the perfect opportunity to become acquainted with your birdy neighbours. Birds in Backyards surveys can be submitted at any time, and as often as you like. Your data tells us how our urban birds are doing and how our gardens, and our own behaviour in those gardens can impact on the birds visiting.

Even though we are not, birds are on the move!

Autumn is a season of migration, cooling temperatures (for the most part) and with most of us stuck at home, it give us another excuse to get out into our backyards and survey birds. Our Birds in Backyards Autumn Survey runs from March to April with a focus on what unusual or unexpected birds are turning up in your backyard?

How do I submit my surveys?

1. If you don’t have a Birdata account, sign up for one today. Then read the instructions or watch the video.

2. Go to the Birdata portal or download the Birdata app

3. Select ‘Birds in Backyards’ from the program list and locate your garden on the map

4. Fill in some details about your garden – take a ‘birds eye view’… and tell us what your space is like. You only have to do this once (unless something changes in your garden)

5. Spend either one block of 20 mins recording which birds visit your garden OR keep a record over a week of all the birds you see and fill in the survey

6. There are options to add photos, give us more details (if the bird is something unusual in your garden, put this in the notes), record any breeding info or aggressive bird behaviour if you want to

7. Submit and enjoy!

What if I don’t know a Pipit from a Pardalote?

You don’t have to know the names of all your birds to take part. The Birdata portal and app will automatically give you a list of birds (with photos) known to be in your area and you can select from that list. The more surveys you do, the more accurate that list becomes. You can of course type in the names of any other birds who are not in that list – use our Bird Finder to help identify them.

Partners

We acknowledge and appreciate the support of all our partners, supporters, funding bodies and sponsors.