This weekend, tear yourself away from staring at screens for an hour and stare out the window instead for the RSPB's annual Big Garden Birdwatch.
It's about counting the feathered friends that visit your 'hood. Simply record the highest number of each bird species seen in your garden, or local park (not flying over) at any one time, and tell the RSPB what you saw. If your avian identification skills are lacking, you can download the handy bird ID sheet to help tell your jackdaw from your carrion crow. Or use the Bird A-Z to assist you with your temporary twitching.
Last year, wood pigeons, starlings and sparrows topped the list for most common garden birds of Greater London, with blue tits, blackbirds and feral pigeons close behind. Take an hour out of this weekend - Saturday or Sunday - and help the RSPB keep track of our garden birds.
Register online and get ready now.
Image of pigeons by sa1000 via the Londonist Flickrpool
