Count garden birds and take part in a garden bird survey. Not just in Belgium but in any country in the world!
In Belgium during the weekend of January 28-29, 2023, thousands of people across the country will be taking part in the annual census of garden birds. It’s organised by the Belgian nature conservation societies Natuurpunt (Flemish) and Natagora (French). The statistics gathered give a useful picture of the current status of garden birds in Belgium. For example, the information can help ecologists spot a declining species, and take the first steps to aid recovery.
Get the kids involved to count garden birds
If you want to take part, it’s simple; and it’s particularly fun for children. Simply record the highest number of each bird species seen during this weekend. It can be in your garden or on your balcony, and either on the Saturday or Sunday, or both. You don’t have to spend all weekend staring out of your window; half an hour is sufficient. The morning is the best time to look, when the birds are out and about, feeding after a cold winter’s night. But remember – you should note the maximum number you see at any one time. So if for example you see 5 greenfinches at nine o’clock on Saturday and 7 at ten o’clock, you don’t write down 12, but 7.
If you are not sure how to tell a blue tit from a great tit, or a house sparrow from a tree sparrow (or what they are called in Dutch or French), don’t worry, just use the forms that I mention below which have colour photographs of the birds you are most likely to see.
Use the Dutch form below to help you identify the birds in Dutch and fill in your observations. You then submit them online here.
Use the form below to see what the birds are called in French, then submit your sightings here.
In bilingual Brussels, just choose the language that suits you best.
If you want some advice on how to attract birds to your garden, check out my post on feeding garden birds.
Count garden birds anywhere in the world!
Bird censuses are taking place in other parts of the world, so wherever you live, you and/or your children could take part in one. As my readers are global, here are some examples of garden bird surveys:
- UK: January 27-29, 2023
- France: January 28-29, 2023
- The Netherlands: January 27-29, 2023
- Ireland: Between December and February, 2023
- USA: February 17-20, 2023
- Australia: October 16-22, 2023
- ???
Feel free to add your own country’s survey dates in the comments below or send me a message and I will add them to the list.
If your country does not seem to organize a specific national garden bird survey, don’t despair. You can still count your garden birds, wherever you live, in any country of the world, and submit them to a great global initiative called eBird.
Nature projects for children
Did you know that there’s a whole range of nature projects on this website? Some are ideal for children and grandchildren. Here are a few examples:
- How to make a wildlife garden
- How to identify garden butterflies
- How to make a hedgehog feeding station
- How to identify berries on an autumn country walk
- How to identify farm crops on a country walk
- How to make a bee hotel
- How to make a country walk fun for children
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Ha. No it’s the famous Count Avi Anne 😅
Thanks for the heads up, Denzil. We just happen to be in San Diego that weekend and should see a lot of birds. Since my husband is for the birds (literally and figuratively), it would be a great assignment for him. 🙂
Hopefully that darn squirrel hasn’t followed you there.
Hope he won’t San Diego has ground squirrels, larger and less attractive, not tree rats.
Thank you Denzil. I checked out the Irish link and will definitely take part.
Great, look forward to hearing what Irish birds you have in your garden.
This is such a fun and useful event to participate in. I wish I could do this (Southern California) but we live in an artificially fabricated eucalyptus woods and the birds hate it. The only feathered friends for decades were crows – noisy and messy. Now we do get peregrine falcons but I’m lucky to spot the pair a couple of times over the season. Sometimes a hummingbird flits by but for the most part, this faux bois doesn’t provide an avian enriching environment – all the more reason for those who live in areas that do to enjoy the count.
As for the competing counting corporations – their system is for the birds. They ought to get their act together.
Never heard of a eucalyptus wood Sharon. Shame it’s pretty dead.
A lot of things are double here, due to the language division. So there will be a French and Dutch version of pretty much identical organisations or services. I guess it keeps more people in work.
Amen, Sharon – Denzil, I’ve got birds in my back yard, not a huge diversity, but last week for a few mornings there was a lot of early morning clamoring by a flock of parrots 🙂
Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Denzil. I was unaware of such a census and I’m pleased to see that the USA also participates. We have three hummingbirds and about six small brown-feathered birds. I’ll have to find out their name.
I’ve never seen a hummingbird. I think they are so beautifully fragile
Denzil, many thanks for mentioning this as I usually read about the event afterwards. I used to think you had to spend the whole weekend bird-watching but from your book realise it’s just an hour and as the RSB website says ‘Make sure it’s comfy and you have the essentials within easy reach – a nice, hot drink and your favourite biscuits – and somewhere to jot down what you see.’ Fun and easy … I hope.
Look forward to taking part … reckon I’ll get stressed when there are many birds around the feeders!
Even 30 minutes is fine. Or two sessions. Hope you enjoy it!
Great, and again a wonderful activity for children! I will bookmark February 15-18 and do my part here in Colombia which reportedly has the largest number of bird species of any country on the planet.
That sounds like a birdwatcher’s paradise. Let me know how you get on
A friend of mine always does the Australian one and usually announces the date beforehand. I’ll have to join in this year.
Try and see more than your friend does!
She lives on a large block of land with many trees and has a big bird feeder right outside the back door. She loves to sit just inside and watch all the native birds come to the feeder. I already know she would win hands down! 🙂
The US/Canada has their count in mid-Feb. Bird counts are on the rise worldwide, so good for science!
Absolutely Eliza, and I was so encouraged to see a global one that takes your data from anywhere.
Hi Denzil. I have scheduled a post on your book for Friday. Just in case you do not catch it.
Thanks so much Brigid. Yes I caught it and commented on it. Really appreciate this Brigid.
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