YOUNGSTERS in Suffolk are due to help launch the biggest bird survey in the world this weekend.All the birds you can see above are the most common in Suffolk and can usually be seen flitting around your garden.

By Jessica Nicholls

YOUNGSTERS in Suffolk are due to help launch the biggest bird survey in the world this weekend.

All the birds you can see above are the most common in Suffolk and can usually be seen flitting around your garden.

Big Garden Birdwatch was launched to track the changes of birds in the countryside and the ten birds above were found to be the most common in our county during last year's survey.

Results of the survey can help the RSPB find out where populations of some birds may be dropping and take action to combat that.

Today children from the Minsmere RSPB Wildlife Explorer's group were due to launch the RSPB's 24th birdwatch, by making bird feeders and looking at alternative bird table designs.

The actual birdwatch takes place next weekend on January 26 and 27 and the RSPB is hoping thousands of people will take an hour out of their day to help out.

Tim Rose, visitor centre manager at Minsmere, said that all people need to do is spend an hour in their garden or the park watching and counting the birds that they see, filling out a special survey form to send to the RSPB.

He said: "It is invaluable to have a national survey of number of birds using our gardens and parks.

"Birds that people think are common everywhere might be dropping in population in some places.

"The RSPB do everything they can to try and combat that happening by raising awareness in people – perhaps to get people to feed the birds more at certain times of year."

This year it is hoped that more than 100,000 people will take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch across the country.

Survey forms can be obtained by ringing 0870 601 0215 or visiting www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.