Birds in Greenspaces

The BTO Birds in Greenspaces project aims to find out just how important greenspaces are for UK birds – and we want your help!

Birds in Greenspaces is a new, UK-wide citizen science survey of birds that use our public-access greenspaces. These spaces play many important roles for both birds and people, particularly in urban areas. For birds they offer resources and shelter that cannot be found in the surrounding built-up environment, and for people, are important hubs for socialising, exercise, and cultural activities. For many they are also the only accessible place to connect with the natural world, something which can be very beneficial for mental health.

Public access greenspaces include places like parks, cemeteries, and playing fields, to name a few, meaning a wide range of different habitat on offer. The way in which habitat is managed also varies, determining which birds (and how many of them) make use of these sites. If we can find out the importance of different greenspaces for birds, and people, we can use the findings to inform management guidance, so that decisions are made that benefit both.

The is open to people of all ages and experience levels, across the UK and we want as many people as possible to get out into their local greenspace and learn about and connect with the wildlife there, and help us to find out more about these understudied spaces.

Anyone can take part in Birds in Greenspaces! From April to June, we will be asking you to record the birds in your local greenspace(s). By simply recording which greenspace you visited, how long you spent there, which birds you saw and how many, you will be contributing key data. Whatever your experience level, we will be offering a range of resources to help you to take part and build your skills.

This project has been funded by a gift in Will from Denis Summers-Smith, for which we are extremely grateful.

Developed by the British Trust for Ornithology.