BY NICK PEARCE
Farmers and landowners across the UK have been given a last-minute opportunity to take part in the national census of farmland birds, as the organisers extend the deadline due to adverse weather.
The Big Farmland Bird Count (BFBC), an annual event coordinated by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), will now run until March 1st, 2026. The extension comes after the country experienced exceptionally wet conditions throughout the original counting period, which began on 6 February.
Organisers hope the additional week will allow more “working conservationists”—including farmers, land managers, and gamekeepers—to find a suitable window in the weather to record the bird species on their land.
The count aims to provide a fascinating snapshot of bird populations on farms and raise awareness of the critical role the agricultural community plays in conservation. With approximately 72% of the UK’s land being farmed, the GWCT emphasizes that national biodiversity recovery can only be achieved alongside sustainable food production.
Dr. Roger Draycott, GWCT’s Director of Advisory, encouraged participation, stating: “With an extra week to participate in the BFBC, we would encourage people to wait for a gap in the wet weather and take the opportunity to take part in this hugely important survey of the UK’s farmland birds.”
He stressed the political importance of the data collected, adding: “The BFBC gives us a valuable national picture of the impact of farmers’ contribution to conservation and the data helps us demonstrate why it is essential that the Government continues to adequately fund agri-environment measures. The more farmers who take part, the clearer the picture we get of trends in the abundance of species and the stronger the message to policymakers.”
Organisers stress that participation is free and requires no specialist knowledge or equipment, just a willingness to spend 30 minutes observing birds on the farm.
For those unsure about species identification, the GWCT recommends using free tools such as the Merlin Bird ID app. Furthermore, submitting sightings has been made easier this year thanks to the integration of the new PERDIXPro Fieldbook app, which allows participants to input counts instantly while out in the field.
To take part, farmers and landowners should download the PERDIXPro Fieldbook app or print a count sheet from the BFBC website. They should then select an area of the farm where birds are known to gather, such as near a hedgerow, and count for 30 minutes, recording both the species and the number of birds seen. Once the count is complete, results can be submitted through the app or by post.
In many regions, local bird and wildlife groups are partnering with farmers to help with the count, and the GWCT encourages participants to reach out to their local ornithological groups for assistance.
The BFBC is sponsored by the NFU. More information, including bird ID guides, instructional videos, and printable count sheets, is available on the BFBC website.