Annual birdwatch now under way
Angus residents are being urged to take part in the world's largest garden wildlife survey.
The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch, which began in 1979, is returning later this month.
The annual event asks people to spend one hour counting the birds they see in their garden, park, or from their balcony, and to report their findings to the RSPB.
The survey provides a snapshot of how garden birds are faring across the UK and is considered a significant way to take action for birds and nature.
Across the UK, over 590,000 people took part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2025, counting a whopping 9.1 million birds.
And the RSPB is hoping for even more participants in 2026.
Beccy Speight, the organisation’s chief executive, said: "By taking part in the Birdwatch, you and hundreds of thousands of other nature lovers across the UK are helping us understand how garden birds are doing.
"Birds and wildlife are struggling right now. Every observation counts, even if you see nothing at all."
The Big Garden Birdwatch has helped to identify trends in bird populations over the decades.
The 2025 results showed house sparrows remaining the most common garden bird, although their numbers were down 11 per cent compared to 2024.
Average house sparrow counts were the lowest since 1998, and have declined by 64 per cent since the first Birdwatch in 1979. Meanwhile, the average count of wood pigeons was the highest ever recorded in the Big Garden Birdwatch.
To take part, residents are asked to count the birds that land in their chosen space for one hour over the weekend of Friday, January 23 to Sunday, January 25.
The RSPB is offering a free Big Garden Birdwatch guide for participants, containing a bird identification chart, tips for the Birdwatch, and advice on how to attract wildlife to your garden.
In addition, the RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch, takes place from Tuesday, January 6 to Friday, February 13, 2026. To find out more, visit www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch/