Are you interested in the natural world, and more specifically in birds? You can take part in two of our core surveys as part of DofE!

By downloading and using the BirdTrack app, you can help scientists learn more about what’s happening to birds in the UK. The app is free and you can use it to record any of the birds you see or hear when out and about. You don’t need to be able to identify every single bird, but depending on your skill level, you can submit data on which birds you’ve seen, but also information on breeding behaviour, habitat and more. These data are then available to UK, European and international projects to help us learn more about birds. This helps us better understand what is happening to bird populations in the UK and further afield. To find out more about BirdTrack, head to https://www.bto.org/birdtrack.

Garden BirdWatch is BTO’s most accessible survey; you can be a citizen science from the comfort of your own home. The survey is designed to find out how, when and why birds and other animals use our gardens. You send in weekly lists of garden birds and other wildlife you’ve seen, which are analysed by scientists working under the BTO’s urban and garden ecology research programmes. You can decide how much time you invest each week, but we ask that you are consistent; for example, ten minutes every day or an hour every week. Your data are saved in your account, so you can go back and see how your garden or green space is changing over time and seasons. For more information visit www.bto.org/gbw

If you need help learning how to identify birds, see https://www.bto.org/youth-events for an event near you or online. If you need any further support, email [email protected] for more information.