Overview
- The event runs 23–25 January 2026, with participants spending a single hour counting birds that land in a garden, balcony, allotment or local park before submitting results to the RSPB.
- Registration is open, with free digital or postal guides available via rspb.org.uk/birdwatch, by calling 0800 473 0251, or by texting BIRD to 84901.
- Regional reports list different registration closing dates, with some stating 22 January and others 25 January.
- In 2025 nearly 600,000 people counted more than nine million birds nationwide, with House Sparrow remaining most recorded despite a 64% decline since 1979 and Starlings falling a further 6% to a record low average.
- Since 1979 the Birdwatch has logged more than seven million surveys, over 200 million birds and nearly 12.6 million hours of observation, creating a major dataset for conservation.