We are glued to TVs, Computers and mobile phones; getting distancing ourselves from the nature. Birds are adorable creatures that even a small garden is being visited by dozen(s) of different species – so they have special power of connecting all of us to nature. Garden Bird Watch (GBW) is an opportunity for you and your family to step out and enjoy the nature at your own backyard to celebrate the World Environment Day.
The birds that visit our garden and surrounding area are mostly common birds; but they too could be declining without your notice. Some birds like Green Imperial Pigeon could be visiting home gardens more frequently now – but without observations we would not know.
So let’s step out, watch birds and have a note on different bird species seen (with their numbers if possible). Enter the observations on eBird.org to mark your own home garden on the global ebird landscape.
eBird is easy to operate and those who are new to eBird, Follow this video guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O8OJFrHxWg for instructions. Please share the link of your check list to Garden BirdWatch 2018 event on FOGSL Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/events/244744352770201/  or simply email to ebirdcolombo2018@gmail.com.
 
The Garden BirdWatch 2018 was launched on the International Day of Biological Diversity (22nd of May) and will continue until World Environment Day on 05th of June. Though the event will officially end on 5th of June, we invite you to continue observations and contribute data throughout the month of June for Garden BirdWatch 2018.

A ‘garden’ can be your office garden or school garden as well. So get your colleagues and relatives too to do Garden BirdWatch. It is indeed a relaxing exercise that will also give valuable data for ornithologists to study the common birds.

Visit our website for more info and a guide to identify some of the common garden birds www.gardenbirdwatch.wordpress.com. if you find any difficulty to use eBird, simply make a list of birds seen at your garden (with their numbers if possible) and email to FOGSL or post it before 30.06.2018. You may also use the data entry form on GBW website to send data.

The Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL),
Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Colombo 03.
011-2501332 / 071-8440144 | fogsl1976@gmail.com.

GardenBirdWatch poster