Big Farmland Bird Count

The 2023 Big Farmland Bird Count takes place from 3-19 February.

– Why are we counting?

This important initiative offers a simple means of recording the effect of any conservation schemes currently being initiated by farmers and gamekeepers on their land such as supplementary feeding or growing wild bird seed crops and game cover crops. It is also a useful way of gaining personal insight on how well their birds are faring.

– How to take part

Just follow the three simple steps below to take part:

1. Download your count sheet

• Those who participate in the count in February 2023 will be able to submit their entries online.

• To help with the count out in the field you can download and print our helpful count sheet:

2. Count your birds!

• On one day between 3rd and 19th February spend about 30 minutes recording the species and number of birds seen on one particular area of the farm. You can choose your own location but somewhere with a good view of around 2 ha of the farm would be ideal.

• You’ll be asked to record the types of habitat and cropping on and adjacent to your count site to help provide us with more detail about your count location.

• To see the highest number of birds we would recommend that the site includes or is close to an area of game or wild seed mix or somewhere that supplementary feeding takes place.

• Ideally, counting should take place at first light as this is when the birds are most active. However, it is more important that you take part, so timings should suit you.

3. Submit your results online

You can submit your Big Farmland Bird Count results quickly and easily online once the count begins on 3 February 2023.

We’re once again using the NotaZone survey platform developed by Agrantec to collect count results. The system is safe and secure and all submissions will remain 100% confidential.