Birding during Lockdown

Birdwatching from home

Jan 15, 2021

As Britain enters its second week of Lockdown, we are asked to keep local.
Birdwatching close to home, whether in your garden or a local park, can bring a greater appreciation of often-overlooked species.
Getting to know your local patch also helps you spot when uncommon species or migrants arrive.

Top tips for local patch birdwatching:

Identify the boundaries for your patch
Is it your garden fence?
Does it extend to plants in neighbours’ gardens that border yours?
Is it the park boundary?
Is it as far as you can see from your window?
Note the key features of your patch.
Tall trees or scrubby brush?
Lawn or fields?
Ponds or bowls of fresh water?
Feeding stations?
Discover what species are likely in your patch
Browse bird species guides, such as this from the RSPB
Use eBird to explore nearby hotspots
Make time to look for birds
Whether 10 minutes looking through your window or
during permitted outside exercise
Make a record of the birds you see.
Keep daily or weekly notes
Enter your checklists on eBird, or sign up for the BTO Garden Birdwatch (free to join during Lockdown)

Additional ideas while birdwatching

Look for birds at different heights.
Ground feeding species may prefer the cover provided by shrubs
Songbirds may be seen calling on prominent perches at all levels
Check the canopy of trees - what might be hiding there? (Binoculars will help)
Notice their behaviours
Are they competing for food or space?
Pairing up?
Collecting nesting material?
Take part in community science projects like RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch