FeatherSnap, the solar-powered, Wi-Fi enabled smart bird feeder, is proudly supporting the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2026 encouraging households across the UK to join hundreds of thousands of people taking part in the nation’s largest annual survey of garden birds.
Fun, free and open to everyone, the Big Garden Birdwatch provides a vital snapshot of how our most familiar bird species are faring. Every count helps build a clearer picture of the health of the UK’s bird populations and offers a simple, positive way for people to take action for nature.
Together, let’s make it count
Traditionally, birdwatchers have relied on sitting patiently in the garden, counting birds as they flit along fences or dart between feeders. FeatherSnap makes the process easier than ever, even when you’re not there to keep watch. Instead of guessing who popped by while you were out, FeatherSnap captures every visit automatically, making it simple to see exactly which birds are using your garden and how often.
In the lead-up to the bird count, taking place from 23rd – 25th January, FeatherSnap is encouraging nature lovers to get their gardens bird count ready. From practical tips on attracting birds into gardens and green spaces, to exclusive savings, FeatherSnap is offering 15% off feeders from 14th –31st January 2026 using the code FSRSPB15.
The perfect tool for effortless bird counting
Equipped with motion-activated cameras and AI-powered bird identification, FeatherSnap automatically captures high-resolution photos and videos of every visitor, delivering them straight to the FeatherSnap app. Users can watch live, receive instant notifications, catalogue species and build a personal digital Bird Book – making it the ideal companion for observing, identifying and counting birds in support of the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch.
Throughout the campaign, FeatherSnap will also be encouraging users to share their favourite sightings across social media using #BigGardenBirdwatch, helping to spread awareness and inspire even more people to take part.
FeatherSnap’s resident Ornithologist and Research Specialist, Maria Kincaid, said: “The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is a fantastic and hugely important initiative. I’m a huge proponent of citizen science – the more people that get involved, the better the data we can gather. It also helps people feel connected to the scientific process, providing a valuable snapshot of how birds are coping during winter, when they need our support the most, and helping to track population trends over time.”
“At this time of year, there’s very little blooming in our gardens to support insects. While most birds continue to rely on natural foraging, studies show that garden feeders can provide valuable supplementary support during lean periods – while also giving people an unrivalled close-up view of the wildlife right on their doorstep.”
Here, Maria shares her top tips for creating a bird friendly garden and getting bird count ready:
- Make sure your feeders are filled and maintained. It’s incredibly important to make sure that we’re not only regularly filling our feeders, but cleaning and sanitizing them as well – this helps to prevent the spread of diseases, and make sure that we’re not feeding spoiled food.
- Fill your feeders with high calorie/nutritionally dense food – suet is a great option for winter as it’s an easy to digest fat full of calories. Thistle, sunflower seeds, and nut mixes are also great options.
- Feeder placement matters too. keeping feeders either within three feet of windows or more than ten to reduce the risk of collisions, hanging them around five feet high for both access and squirrel deterrence, and positioning them near cover, without creating hiding spots for cats.
- Providing water is also very important during cold snaps – having open water is a limiting factor in the winter, so providing a bird bath is an excellent choice. If it’s regularly freezing, consider a heated bird bath, or adding a heating element. The goal is to make sure that the water doesn’t freeze, not to have it be spectacularly warm.
- Lastly, having a lot of cover available, whether it’s shrubs or a brush pile, makes for great roosting spots for birds, as they can get away from the wind and cold. Creating a brush pile in the corner your garden will also create a great foraging space.
Source Hornby George PR
