This RSPB dataset contains the results from surveys of garden bird observations, made by the public during a one-hour period of their choice in the last weekend of January 2008. The survey has been conducted annually since 1979, though this dataset is for 26th-27th January 2008. More than 70 species of birds have been observed in these surveys. Initially data for the top three species (house sparrow, starling and blackbird) are supplied; more species and data for other years will follow.
Volunteers sat and watched birds for one hour during the last weekend of January 2008, and counted the highest number of each bird species seen at any one time (not counting birds flying over). Volunteers were provided with a Counting Sheet to tally the numbers of birds, and pictures of the most common birds seen in gardens. Data was submitted to the RSPB online or using a mail-in form. *
In June 2008 we reported on the decline of common garden species “common birds declining” One of the birds threatened is the common blackbird. The current RSPB survey which tool place in January 2009 has shown the species remains static in numbers over the last year with an average 2.84 birds per garden. On the map this month we focus on the records of blackbird supplied by this RSPB dataset and others.
For more information on the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch < opens in a new window >
*The data has been mapped and checked. Species-specific filters were used to remove anomalously high counts and obviously out-of-range reports. Although the level of misidentified records may be higher than in datasets collected by more experienced observers, this is mitigated by the large sample size and standardisation between years