garden birdwatchers matter Why gardens and local garden birdwatchers matter Pre-talk: put a copy of Bird Table, with a GBW ‘taster’ form enclosed, on every chair. Introduction General intro to yourself and the talk (e.g. talk outline). Ask audience how many people of heard of British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and/or take part in Garden BirdWatch? Comment on how there is often confusion between the BTO and the RSPB. If helpful, clarify. For example, explain that the RSPB is a campaigning organisation that lobbies government and manages a network of nature reserves. The BTO, however, is a non-campaigning, impartial organisation, which, though the help of some 30,000 volunteer birdwatchers, provides unbiased scientific evidence about the health of UK bird populations. This evidence is then used by government and conservationists (including the RSPB) to underpin conservation action. Note: As a GBW Ambassador it is important, please, not to play the BTO off against the RSPB – both organisations do different things and are effective working together. Volunteer birdwatchers contribute to a range of BTO surveys. The one being discussed today is one that can be done from the comfort of your own home – and still makes a big difference to conservation! SPEAKER NAME John Harding 1

Winter… BTO Garden BirdWatch 2 As well as confusion between the BTO and the RSPB, there is often some confusion between their respective garden bird surveys: BTO Garden BirdWatch and the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. These slides help clear up any confusion. Some 14,500 participate in BTO Garden BirdWatch. It is the largest year-round survey of garden birds in the world and has run every week of the year since 1995. Because BTO Garden BirdWatch operates all year round it captures dramatic comings and goings of birds in gardens. The next four slides show that every season is different, and also show where the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, which takes place annually on the last weekend of January, fits in. Data on the nest few slides are from BTO GBW in 2010. Please explain GBW Reporting Rate (Y-axis) Winter highlights include Redwing. BTO Garden BirdWatch 2

Spring… BTO Garden BirdWatch 3 Spring highlights include Siskin, Reed Bunting and, if you are lucky, even Yellowhammer. BTO Garden BirdWatch 3

Summer… BTO Garden BirdWatch 4 During late summer and early autumn, gardens go pretty quiet (birds moult and also move into the wider countryside to profit form abundant food supplies). Blackbird is a good example of a garden bird that is spotted much less frequently during this period. BTO Garden BirdWatch 4

Autumn… BTO Garden BirdWatch 5 Autumn sees many birds flood back into gardens, with hanging feeders becoming busy with roving tit flocks and even Nuthatch. In summary, these slides show how the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch provides excellent snapshot in time. The slides also show, however, how much things change in our garden bird communities throughout the year and the importance of capturing this – this is where BTO Garden BirdWatch is unique. Perhaps mention that although BTO Garden BirdWatch weekly, it is simple and is not time consuming. Basically, anyone who recognises birds in their garden and who spends a few minutes during most weeks watching them, already knows enough, and is doing enough, to take part. Special birds are not required! Also, if away for a week, just leave GBW records blank. BTO Garden BirdWatch 5

Because of the thousands of records that come in through BTO Garden BirdWatch, as well as looking for seasonal differences in the use of gardens by birds, differences between garden types can be explored. Robin is a good example… John Harding 6

Not all gardens are equal! Tommy Holden With Robins, we find that not all gardens are equal – Robins definitely prefer the country life! (the ancestral habitat of Robin is woodland, especially woodland edge, which helps explain this preference). BTO Garden BirdWatch 7

So, there are some interesting goings on – but are gardens important for birds, and garden birds important to us? People might think that gardens are manicured and artificial habitats. While on some level this is true, almost all habitats are shaped by humans (e.g. farmland, woodland, upland areas). Another potential problem is that people think that bird species in gardens are common and, therefore, the use of gardens by birds is not very important. Over the next few slides we’ll find out that gardens and garden birdwatchers are very important indeed! Gardens represent a large area of land in the UK, larger than national and RSPB nature reserves combined. This area is set to expand as the UK population grows from c.62 million currently to c.69 million by 2050. Just under a quarter of all trees outside of woodland in the UK are thought to be found in gardens. In 1950 less than 30% of the world’s population lived in urban areas (e.g. towns and cities). Now more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. This is leading to a dissociation between humans and nature. Therefore, experience of wildlife, such as birds in gardens, is increasingly important. Research shows that access to a garden can reduce anxiety and interactions with nature can provide pleasure, reduce stress and reduce attention deficit in humans. Mike Toms 8

Mike Toms 9 Lots of things have changed in gardens: Around 40-50% of UK householders are now thought to provide food for birds in gardens – a large increase only in the last few decades. In UK, c.50-60 thousand tonnes of bird food are provided p.a. and a market for bird food and associated hardware is worth c.£150-200 million p.a. On average, the number of specialist bird feeders (e.g. hanging feeders) available across the UK is c.100 per km2 – this is an average of c.1 specialist bird feeder for every 9 individual birds that could potentially use this resource. In the UK there is now a ‘Feed the Birds Day’. In the USA, by congressional decree, February is National Bird-Feeding Month. It has been estimated that there are now some c.4.7 million nest boxes provided in UK gardens – this equates to an average of c.1 nestbox for every 6 breeding pairs of cavity nesting birds that could use these nest sites. There tends to be less dead standing wood and thick vegetative cover in gardens than in some other habitats, so natural nesting opportunities might be less available or suitable in gardens. ‘Wildlife gardening’, such as planting particular vegetation, is becoming more popular and we do not yet fully understand the benefits this might afford to birds. With so many exciting and important happenings, and gardens changing so rapidly – now is a great time to make your garden count for conservation with the BTO! Mike Toms 9