RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch returns to the Isle of Wight

Since 1979, the Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey.

It provides a snapshot of how garden birds are faring in the UK and asks us to monitor birdlife, from our backyards, balconies, or back windows, for an hour.

This year’s event takes place over January 26, 27 and 28, 2024.

A House Sparrow - you have almost certainly seen one of these (Image: Pixabay.)

How to take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch on the Isle of Wight this weekend

CLICK HERE to sign up and share your results

• Only count the birds that land, not those flying over
• Log the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour
• Send your results in to the RSPB

A wood pigeon might be a common site (Image: Pixabay.)

The results are collated by the bird charity and will help build a picture of the challenges and successes facing the Island's feathered friends.

In 2023, over half a million people across the UK took part, counting more than nine million birds - and 1,800 Islanders were among them.

The Island's top spot was the House Sparrow - echoing national data and nationally, for the 20th year running.

Sparrows were followed by the Blue Tit and Wood Pigeon as the most common spot on the Island, in 2023.

Over the course of the Big Garden Birdwatch, across the country, 185 million birds have been counted and nearly 11.5 million hours have been spent watching and recording sightings.

A female sparrow (Image: Pixabay)