The annual RSPB's 'Big Garden Birdwatch' returned on 29 to 31 January 2021. Children across the school were encouraged to take part and they found out how to spot the best birds in their garden with a handy RSPB birdwatch guide and recording sheet. 2021 marks the 42nd RSPB 'Big Garden Birdwatch', which saw keen birdwatchers across the UK join the largest garden wildlife citizen science project by spending one hour tracking the birds they saw in their gardens. During that time, across the UK hundreds of thousands of people volunteered their time. Last year, over 500,000 birds were counted by Big Garden Birdwatchers in Scotland giving real insight into how our birds are faring.
According to the conservation charity, across the UK nearly 9 million hours have been spent watching garden birds since the Birdwatch began in 1979 with more than 137 million birds counted, helping provide the charity with valuable insight. Children in T2 spent a session discussing ideas for creating their own bird feeders, creating origami birds and also Lego bird models.
Miss Rachel Brunning, organiser of the SJCS Birdwatch, commented, ‘It has been lovely to see so many of the SJCS families taking part in this year's RSPB birdwatch. Preparations began a few weeks ago with the making and stocking up of the bird feeders. One child conducted an experiment and found that sunflower seeds were the favoured food for the birds that visited his garden. It was great to hear about, and see photos of, families completing the birdwatch together during the weekend of the watch itself. One family decided to conduct the watch at the same time as other family members and positioned their web cams so that they could all see each other's gardens - what a lovely idea! I spotted robins, blackbirds, pigeons and a wren, but there were sightings of owls, goldfinches, greenfinches, buzzards and more.’
