Early Bird Survey - Instructions

1. Choose A Day
The survey must be completed on one morning between Sunday 20^th December until Sunday 27^th December 2009 inclusive.
 

2. Get In Position Before First Light
Get into your observation position before "first light" on your chosen morning. First light is when it is light enough to be able to see the birds - this is usually about an hour before sunrise but may be affected by weather conditions.
 

3. Record Time Of "First Light"
If your feeders are normally illuminated by artificial lighting, first light will be when you start the survey.
 

4. Record Order And Time Of Arrival Of Species
Record the order and time of arrival of individual species at your garden feeding station, i.e. when they start feeding and not when they are simply present in your garden. For example:

• A couple of Blue Tits arrive at different times: record the arrival time of the first bird only.
• A Dunnock is rummaging in the undergrowth: record when you first saw it.
• A Wood Pigeon is roosting in your tree: do not record it until it starts feeding.

 

5. Record Finish Time
Record the time you finish your survey. The survey must be completed by 10 AM at the latest.
 

6. Complete The On-line Survey Form
When you have finished your survey, complete the on-line survey form (your browser must support JavaScript). The survey will be closed on 3^rd January 2010 thus giving people time to submit their results over the festive period.