The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ Big Garden Birdwatch — the world’s largest wildlife survey — takes place this weekend.

Sarah Kelly, Big Garden Birdwatch co-ordinator, said: “Big Garden Birdwatch provides a fun activity for all the family in the depths of winter.

"Participation just keeps increasing, I believe in part, because it’s so easy to join in "By giving up just one hour of your day, you can make a real difference to our knowledge of garden birds. We’re able to distinguish the ones that are doing well from those that need our help.

“Once an activity for children, Big Garden Birdwatch is now popular with children and adults alike and we’re particularly keen to get more families involved this year. Why not make a day of it by creating bird feeders made from recycled household goods or bird cakes for the birds in your garden?”

Ms Kelly added: “Big Garden Birdwatch is a vital way for you to contribute to a significant piece of wildlife research without leaving the comfort of your home — in fact, we’d really rather you stayed indoors, so as not to disturb the visitors to your garden. You don’t need to be an expert but we really couldn’t do it without your help.”

Past Big Garden Birdwatch findings have enabled the RSPB to embark upon studies to identify the cause of certain species’ decline as well as steps we can take to help them recover.

Results have shown the tit family as having tremendous staying power with blue, great, coal and long-tailed tits all having staked their claim in the Big Garden Birdwatch top 15 with regular appearances, year on year.

Contributors to the Birdwatch are asked to spend one hour over the weekend January 29/30 counting the birds in their garden or local park and to record the highest number of every bird species seen at any one time.

For further information and online resources, visit the RSPB website, www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.