Somerset residents are being encouraged to spend an hour to watch and count birds in their garden, balcony or local park for the Big Garden Birdwatch 2024 survey.
The survey will take place on January 26, 27 and 28.
Beccy Speight, chief executive at the Big Garden Birdwatch, said: "By taking part in the Birdwatch you are joining hundreds of thousands of people from across the UK, united in a love of nature, to play an important role in helping us understand how UK birds are doing.
"Big Garden Birdwatch demonstrates the power that people have when they come together for nature. Join us for Big Garden Birdwatch 2024 and together let’s take action to help birds and other wildlife thrive for generations to come.”
A total of 13,500 Somerset residents joined the survey in 2023, contributing to the over half a million people nationwide who counted nine million birds.
The House Sparrow took the top spot in Somerset as the most observed bird, followed by the Starling and Blue Tit.
The annual event, marking its 45th anniversary this year, provides a snapshot of how the UK's garden birds are faring.
Since its inception in 1979, participants across the country have spent nearly 11.5 million hours watching and counting garden birds, with a total of 185 million birds counted so far.
Big Garden Birdwatch 2023 recognised House Sparrows celebrating their 20th year as the most spotted bird in gardens across the UK.
Despite a significant decrease of nearly 60% since 1979, nearly 1.5 million of these birds were observed in last year's survey.
Over its lifetime, the Birdwatch has shed light on birds' fluctuating populations. The Long-tailed Tit, for instance, saw its population increase by 39 per cent last year.
Greenfinches, on the other hand, have suffered a population decrease of 62 per cent over the past decade, largely due to a disease known as Trichomonosis.
Ms Speight added: "The birds we see in our gardens, from our balconies, and in our parks, are a lively, colourful and endlessly fascinating part of all our lives.
"By taking part in the Birdwatch, you and hundreds of thousands like you, play an important role in helping us understand how UK birds are doing.
"With birds and other wildlife now facing so many challenges due to the nature and climate emergency, every count matters.”
To join, Somerset residents are encouraged to visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch and log the highest number of each bird species they see.
Only birds who land are to be counted, not those flying overhead.
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