Guest post by Laura Elliot, Education, Families and Youth Officer for RSPB Scotland
Just before we all take a well-deserved break, here’s a sneak peek of a fun activity you can do with your class when you return in the new year. It is almost time for the RSPB Big Schools’ Bird Watch – the largest citizen science project for schools across the UK. From 6th January- 13th February 2026, we are inviting as many schools as possible to head outdoors and count the birds visiting their grounds. Not only is this a great way to help nature, but it also links in well with multiple areas of the curriculum. Children will use science and maths skills such as classification and data handling. You can even extend your pupils’ engagement and learning by taking part in RSPB’s Wild Challenge Award.
Upon registration, teachers will receive an email containing information, links and downloadable resources, including ID guides for running the Birdwatch.
It is important that you only count the birds that land in your school grounds and that you count the maximum number of birds of a particular species seen at once. This helps to prevent the same bird being counted multiple times.
We ask that your results are submitted online by 23rd February 2026 and as a thank you, you will automatically be sent a downloadable certificate for taking part.
Nearly 100,000 pupils took part in last year’s Big Schools’ Bird watch and over the past decade, 70 species of birds have been recorded in school grounds. This data has helped provide a snapshot of how birds across UK schools are faring. Importantly, it also helps schools learn more about the species that are attracted to their grounds and helps them monitor year on year data. Schools can get an indication of the biodiversity of their grounds based on the birds that visit.
In the Big Schools’ Birdwatch 2025, the Woodpigeon was the most frequently reported species across UK schools. We hope you will help us find winner for 2026!
You don’t need to be a scientist to take part in real research. Citizen science projects welcome people of all ages to help by counting, observing, measuring, and recording what they see around them. Here are a few inspiring ways you can get involved this year.
