Small effort, great pleasure; and important for the preservation of our nature; From January 26 to January 28, 2024 it is time for the National Garden Bird Count.
On these days, the Bird Protection Society and Sovon ask everyone to count the birds in their garden or on their balcony. You can find more information on the IVN website. T
hanks to the Garden Bird Count, we know how birds use our gardens in winter. With this information we can better help and protect birds. Join us too; it’s fun and useful! Will you participate?
How does it work?
Get started with bird counting in 3 easy steps:
- Count the birds in your garden or on your balcony for half an hour on Friday January 26, Saturday 27 or Sunday 28 January 2024. Do the birds only fly over your garden? Those don’t count. Schools, petting zoos and other groups can count in advance at a time that suits them.
- Record all sightings of a species in your garden or on your balcony. But don’t add these sightings together, as you run the risk of counting the same bird twice. Only report the highest number of a species you have seen at one time. So: do you see 3 great tits at the same time in your half-hour counting and a little later 5 great tits? Then you pass on: 5 great tits.
- Tip: are there many birds on the feeding board or silo at the same time? Take a photo with your smartphone and after your half hour of counting you can check how many birds you have seen.
- You can easily submit your count via the Garden Bird Count website. The counting form is ready for you there. Complete your count no later than Monday morning, January 29 before 12 noon.
Garden bird search card
Download the Garden Bird search card with illustrations by Lisbeth van Lintel here
Online Garden Birds course
Are you curious about which birds are in your garden? Or what keeps flying past your balcony? In the short online course of the IVN Nature Academy you will become acquainted with common garden birds. And discover how to attract more to your garden or balcony. To the online Garden Birds course.