New edition on 29 and 30 January of the “garden bird counting” operation launched in Brittany and Loire Atlantique by the Bretagne Vivante association. Information with Olivier Ganne from the Loire Atlantique branch.
How can you help protect nature while admiring it and sharing your wonder with your loved ones? Answer: by actively participating, on January 29 and 30, alone in a group or with the family, in the annual count of the species of birds frequenting our gardens. Species that are – wrongly – said to be common but which are by no means banal.
A friendly Robin behind the glass, looking for a seed? Already seen. But would you be able to identify the aptly named European Goldfinch or the Eurasian Nuthatch?
Take advantage of the observation kit provided by Bretagne Vivante and the Geoca on the occasion of their operation to count garden birds on 29 and 30 January, with this year the Chaffinch as its muse.
Nearly 6,000 volunteer observers took part in 2021 to collect valuable data on the populations of these so-called common birds – but which are by no means banal – in what is a wonderful participatory and fun science approach.
Throughout Brittany and Loire-Atlantique, this initiative makes it possible to identify the species in question (and many others) to better monitor their populations, warn of their possible disappearance or mortality and collectively find solutions for their preservation.
One hour is all participation requires. In exchange, it offers a privileged opportunity to observe, admire and thus better understand and protect nature. And an opportunity for family and generational transmission of knowledge that must not be lost.
On January 29 and 30, all you have to do is choose a place of observation (a garden, a park, a school, alone or with neighbors or even with family with children and grandchildren) and note all the birds observed by ticking the right box.
On D-Day, it will also be possible to enter the information online on the site: bretagne-vivante-dev.org/coj
You have doubts about the identification of a species? Bretagne Vivante and the Geoca provide you with an illustrated glossary, colorful, of the most common species to identify them. And the European Goldfinch will become, among other things, a companion.
How to proceed ?
* For one hour, observe and identify the birds you see in the place defined above.
* To avoid counting the same bird several times (for example, when going back and forth to the feeder), note in the entry table only the maximum number of birds of the same species seen at the same time. If you see 2 tits then, a bit later, 4, then 2 again, score 4.
* If you observe species that are not listed in the table below, use the empty boxes provided at the bottom of the table.
* If you cannot identify certain birds that you observe, do not note them in the table. You can optionally take a photo of them for later identification.
* These instructions are important for the validity of the data.