RSPB Big Campus Birdwatch

Come and join us for the ‘Big Campus Birdwatch’ on Friday 26th January between 12-2pm, led by our resident birder and Staff Sustainability Architect, Les Arkless.

As long-term corporate partners of the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) we are supporting their annual ‘Big Garden Birdwatch’ (taking place over the weekend of 27th - 28th January 2024) by running our own campus birdwatch. This annual survey is a great opportunity to learn more about the wildlife all around us and also supports national efforts to monitor biodiversity!

Starting from the Sustainable Garden, next to the Roger Stevens Building, you are welcome to join a campus walk and ask Les and our other staff and student volunteers about our campus wildlife.  After doing this, you will have all the tools you need to carry out a survey in your own time, either individually or in small groups with your friends or colleagues.

But I’m not around on this day – can I still take part?

Absolutely!  The RSPB event is a national thing and can be done from your window at home!  Every bit of information gathered helps us to better understand what birds are present across the country, which, in turn will help to guide national biodiversity decision-making.  Every little bit really does help!

But I’d still like to find out more about what wildlife we have on campus.

We have lots of opportunities for you to get involved!

Every month, Les and our other biodiversity volunteers lead monthly ‘wildlife wanders’ through the campus.  These are usually on the first Wednesday of every month between 12 and 1pm.

Also, our Student Sustainability Architect, Hannah Long is planning some wider monitoring training sessions.  This will be building on the award-winning programme developed back in 2018 as a living lab project to better understand our pollinator activities on campus.

The most important thing to note, is that no skills are required – just some decent clothing and footwear and a willingness to give it a go!