Fly into 2023 with Big Garden Birdwatch

Plus, waxwings and a walrus caught on camera

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January 7, 2023 5:04am EST

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Together, let’s make it count

It’s January and Big Garden Birdwatch is back! Sign up now and start your year by helping to look out for garden birds.

Hello -, and welcome back to Notes on Nature.

We’re looking forward to what we hope will be a great year for nature and to working with you to make an even bigger difference for wildlife in 2023.

One way to enjoy and help nature at the same time is by doing Big Garden Birdwatch. It’s free, easy and anyone can take part.

Take a look at our special Birdwatch hub for all you need to know about Big Garden Birdwatch, including:

• How to encourage garden birds
• A guide to what you might see
• Top 12 things to do in 2023 for nature.

Also this week, read on for all you need to know about feeding birds, and head outdoors for a Big Garden Birdwatch event on an RSPB nature reserve.

Siân Duncan
Notes on Nature editor

Make your Birdwatch count

A bobble-hatted woman on a chilly day, placing a bird feeder in the garden

Get your patch Birdwatch-ready

Putting out food may boost the birds you see in your Big Garden Birdwatch. Find out where to put your feeder and what foods attract which birds.

Your feeding guide

A young woman outside on a bright day, she has binoculars poised and eyes raised upwards ready to watch birds

Enjoy a Big Garden Birdwatch event

Whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, it’s a great time to head to an RSPB nature reserve. From basic garden bird identification to how to attract wild birds, our friendly experts can offer you top tips on what you might see from your window, in your local park or out on your local nature reserve. 

What’s on

A waxwing perched on a branch against a clera blue sky, it has a freshly plucked berry in its beak

Watch out for waxwings

Waxwings are stunning birds that don’t always visit the UK, but when they do, it pays to keep an eye out wherever there are berries. Join RSPB Scotland’s Stephen Magee in this short film, as he watches these birds in a location that might surprise you. Will you see a waxwing near you?

Go birdwatching

A close up of Thor the 'wandering' walrus as he sleeps

Why are we seeing walruses in the UK?

Residents of Southampton, Scarborough and Blyth enjoyed a surprise guest recently as a walrus paid a visit before returning to his Arctic home. In this special feature, we look at what might be behind his visit and share some exclusive footage of Thor the walrus.

Caught on camera

Three RSPB delegates at the UN biodiversity conference, COP15. A brightly coloured COP15 sign is behind them

Now, let’s make this deal a reality

At the tail end of 2022, the UN biodiversity conference, COP15, finally resulted in a global deal that includes a target to protect 30% of the planet for nature by 2030. Find out what was achieved and why the RSPB will be working hard to ensure these ambitions are realised.

Taking COP15 forward

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