It’s that time again; we’re gearing up for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch 2024! This annual event has become a staple of The Sign Maker calendar – for the family onsite and for many of our team.
For those who don’t know, The Big Garden Birdwatch is a national survey held to establish the patterns in birdlife. The survey can be completed by anybody who has access to somewhere to bird watch; it’s a brilliant way to engage in environmental efforts. The data is used by the RSPB in order to build a picture of the changes in birdlife, to develop conservation strategies moving forward, and, to some extent, raise awareness for different species of birdlife.
Birdlife At The Sign Maker
We are fortunate to have a diverse range of birdlife that has chosen to make The Sign Maker site their home. Day to day, we spot everything from House Sparrows and Blue Tits to Dunnocks and Goldfinches. We’ve also had the privilege of spotting barn owls, buzzards, and kestrels (needless to say, not at the bird feeders)! Over the summer, we’re home to swifts and swallows – their trademark speed is something we marvel at.
Being situated in the heart of the North Devon loans itself well to being a wildlife hotspot. However, our managerial team have invested into developing the site as a wildlife haven. Over the years, Kate and Shaun have nurtured a biodiverse landscape for the birdlife to explore and inhabit. Investments into native shrubs, a tree planting initiative, and wildlife ponds has seen the site’s biodiversity go from strength to strength. Having established the site, the team then invested in specific bird houses (including swallow cups) and bird feeders. Collectively, these changes have seen the birdlife onsite thrive!
How To Take Part, and Why It Matters
The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch 2024 is being held from the 26th to the 28th of January. In order to take part, all you have to do is sign up on the RSPB website and dedicate a one hour window across the weekend to counting the different birds that you see. Having done this, you then feed back the results to the RSPB via a link that they’ll send you.
You might be asking yourself, “Why does it matter if I take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch”? If this is your question, the answer is simple. The more data that the RSPB have, the more accurate their results will be. Consequently, the organisation will be able to strategise their conversation efforts with greater insight into how patterns in birdlife are changing.
Can you imagine a world without birds? We certainly can’t! Not only are birds beautiful in their own right, they are also imperative to the world’s ecosystem. They are brilliant pollinators, and they are one of the best forms of natural pest control – enabling the ecosystem to work efficiently for survival. Environmental benefits aside, bird watching is a mindful activity that can contribute to an individual’s general sense of wellbeing.
Protecting Your Birdlife
While it’s important to be aware of the context of our conservation efforts, conservation takes many shapes and forms. We know that it can feel overwhelming to attempt to change what the world looks like alone. With this in mind, we wanted to share a few handy tips and tricks that you can use to protect the birdlife where you are.
- Firstly, consider adding a bird feeder or water source to your garden. Neither has to be big or expensive, just enough to offer the birdlife a regular spot for hydration and nutrition. In the winter, fat balls can be a lifeline for a small bird. Similarly, in summer, a regularly topped up drinking bowl can keep a bird well during dry spells.
- Secondly, if you don’t have a garden of your own, one of the best things that you can do is respect and protect the environment around you when you’re out and about.
- Finally, pop to your local garden shop and seek out a handful of native plants for your yard. Native plants tend to thrive with little assistance, and they provide birds with the most natural environment possible.
At The Sign Maker, we believe that everybody can make a difference. No matter how small the impact might seem, we each have a role to play in protecting birdlife and restoring biodiversity. We’d love to know how you get on in the RSPB’s Bird Garden Birdwatch 2024. Email us, leave a comment, or tag us in your social posts – we’d love to connect with fellow environmental enthusiasts! Happy birdwatching!!
Telephone: 01769 561355 | Email:Â pr.signmaker@gmail.com | https://linktr.ee/thesignmaker