- Big Schools’ Birdwatch provides a snapshot of how birds across UK schools are faring
- Big Schools’ Birdwatch is the UK’s largest citizen science project for schools
- Over a million school children have taken part in the Birdwatch since its launch in 2002.
The RSPB’s Big Schools’ Birdwatch returns for 2027, with tens of thousands of schoolchildren expected to watch and count the birds visiting their school grounds and outdoor spaces.
A record number of participants took part in 2026, with more than 142,000 pupils and teachers counting more than 213,000 birds.
Taking place during the first half of the spring term, the Big Schools’ Birdwatch gives children the opportunity to watch and count the birds they see in their school grounds or outdoor space before submitting their results to the RSPB.
Since its launch in 2002, more than one million schoolchildren have taken part, providing the RSPB with a valuable snapshot of how birds across UK schools are faring.
Rachael Albon, RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch Co-ordinator, said: “Big Schools’ Birdwatch offers children the chance to contribute to a UK-wide citizen science project in their school grounds. For more than two decades, schools have recorded valuable information about the birds visiting their grounds, helping us build a picture of how school birds are faring over time and helping schools learn how their grounds support nature.”
“It’s easy to take part and doesn’t require lengthy planning or preparation. New for this year, are maths resources, made by teachers, using the national data from previous years.”
Over the last two decades, more than 70 species have been recorded in school grounds through the Big Schools’ Birdwatch giving the RSPB an astonishing amount of insight into how our wildlife is faring.
The Woodpigeon claimed the number one spot in the Big School Birdwatch rankings as the most commonly seen bird with an average of 6 per school spotted in 2026. The Blackbird took second place with the Carrion Crow completing the top three. [note 2]
Rachael added: “The Birdwatch also helps schools learn more about the species attracted to their grounds and monitor how changes they make for nature impact their Birdwatch results. Ultimately, we want to inspire more teachers to take part in Big Schools’ Birdwatch and support year-round learning in, through and for nature.”
The Big Schools’ Birdwatch counts as one activity towards the RSPB’s free Wild Challenge Award. Inspire your pupils to learn through nature by choosing from more than 20 other activities. Use your Birdwatch results to help guide what your class could do next. Tick off another five and you’ll earn your Bronze Award, then work your way up to Gold. [note 3]
The Big Schools’ Birdwatch is a free activity. Teachers can pick any day during the first half of the Spring term to take part, with the flexibility to run it as a one off or as the centre piece of a cross-curricular study, enrichment activity or a way for the children to improve their outdoor space.
Registration for Big Schools’ Birdwatch 2027 is now open. Visit www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch to sign up and participate using the RSPB’s downloadable resources, giving teachers everything they need to enable their class to take part.
