Garden bird lovers across Bedfordshire are being urged to pick up a pen, a hot drink and a pair of binoculars later this month, as the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch returns from Friday, 23 January to Sunday, 25 January 2026.
Last year, around 7,300 people in Bedfordshire took part, helping to count more than nine million birds nationwide. Locally, Starlings took the top spot as the most commonly seen bird, followed by House Sparrows and Woodpigeons.
With birds facing growing pressure from the nature and climate emergency, the charity says every single count now matters more than ever.
Big weekend
Big Garden Birdwatch is billed as the world’s largest garden wildlife survey.
It began in 1979 and has since become a much-loved annual fixture, with more than seven million individual surveys completed, over 200 million birds counted and nearly 12.6 million hours spent watching garden birds.
In 2025, nearly 600,000 people across the UK took part.
This year, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) hopes even more Bedfordshire residents will join in by spending one hour over the Birdwatch weekend recording the birds they see from their garden, balcony, allotment or local park.
Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s chief executive, said: “By taking part in the Birdwatch, you and hundreds of thousands of other nature lovers across the UK, are helping us understand how garden birds are doing.
Birds and wildlife are struggling right now. Every observation counts, even if you see nothing at all.
“Whether you live in a city or the countryside, anyone, anywhere, can take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch – even if you don’t have a garden. A park, balcony, allotment or window box will do.
Simply spend an hour and count the birds you see. It’s good for wildlife and evidence shows it’s good for our own wellbeing.”
Bedfordshire’s bird trends
Last year’s UK-wide results revealed that House Sparrow held the top spot nationally for the 22nd year in a row as the most commonly spotted bird, with Blue Tit at number two and Woodpigeon at number three. Starling and Blackbird completed the top five.
However, despite the familiar line-up, there were falls in the average numbers counted for House Sparrow, Blue Tit and Starling.
The RSPB says some of this may be linked to weather conditions, with Storm Eowyn hitting last year’s Birdwatch weekend, but longer-term declines are also a concern.
House Sparrow numbers seen in gardens have dropped by around 64% since the first Birdwatch in 1979. Starlings, which ranked fourth nationally, recorded their lowest average count yet, with numbers down a further 6% on the previous year.
The causes of Starling declines, particularly in urban areas, are still not fully understood.
Great Tit, Goldfinch and Long-tailed Tit all remain in the UK top ten, with Long-tailed Tits often turning up in small family flocks and described by the RSPB as “cotton wool balls on sticks”.
Beccy added: “Even on the greyest winter day, garden birds bring a welcome dose of nature into our everyday lives. Take a moment to pause, to listen, to notice.
We need nature, and nature needs us. By joining the Big Garden Birdwatch, you’re doing something positive for birds and nature. Because when we act for nature together, we can do so much more.”
How to take part
To join Big Garden Birdwatch 2026 in Bedfordshire, residents are asked to:
- Pick one hour on Friday 23, Saturday 24 or Sunday 25 January
- Watch the birds from your garden, balcony, local park or green space
- Only count birds that land, not those flying over
- Record the highest number of each species you see at any one time during the hour (not the running total)
Registration is open now until Thursday, 22 January 2026.
Anyone who signs up can receive a free postal or digital Big Garden Birdwatch guide, including a bird identification chart, top tips for counting, an RSPB shop voucher and advice on how to attract wildlife to your outside space.
To register and download your guide, visit: rspb.org.uk.
