Call to retain NI's 'birdwatch record'

The most widespread recorded species last year was the blackbird

People across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to take part in one of the world's biggest garden bird survey which begins this weekend.

County Antrim had the highest rate of participation in the Big Garden Birdwatch last year with almost 900 gardens taking part.

The survey can be conducted by spending one hour counting the birds in a garden or local park, on Saturday and Sunday.

People are asked to record the highest number of each bird species seen at any one time and send their findings to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

The RSPB has stressed that there is a serious point to the birdwatch apart from admiring the pretty birds that flit in and out of gardens.

If you have never sat out there and looked at the birds in your garden you're missing something Stephanie Sim RSPB Northern Ireland

The results are compiled and analysed to see how common garden birds are faring.

Any decline in them signals a deterioration in the quality of the environment.

Stephanie Sim from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Northern Ireland said the survey was "incredibly good fun".

"If you have never sat out there and looked at the birds in your garden you're missing something," she said

"We have been running the campaign for the past two weeks or so and the response from people in Northern Ireland has been phenomenal."

Last year, 314,000 people took part in the survey, recording information in gardens, parks and school grounds across the UK.

Over 4.5m birds were recorded from 101 different species.

The starling retained its top spot as the UK's most common garden bird, despite a 67% decline in numbers since the first survey was held in 1979.

Song thrushes have declined by 35% since the beginning of Big Garden Birdwatch.

Last year, the most widespread recorded species in gardens was the blackbird with 93% of all gardens recording their presence.

The next two most widespread species were the blue tit and the robin, found in 87% and 85% of all gardens respectively.

Some of the more unusual species recorded last year included Blackcaps, which were found in over 3,000 gardens, and ring-necked parakeets, which were recorded in 278 gardens.

The morning is the best time to look, when the birds are out and about feeding after a cold winter night.