It's time to count the birds in your garden!

It’s (almost) that time of year again: the annual Garden Bird Count, during which everyone in the Netherlands is invited to spend half an hour counting the birds in their garden and then reporting their findings. Because more than 100,000 people participate every year, this provides a clear picture of the bird species present in our country, making it easy to compare the results with previous years.

Do you have half an hour to spare this weekend (January 24, 25, and 26, 2025)? If so, count the birds in your yard and submit your results via the Vogelbescherming web app. You’ll also find helpful images there to make it easy to identify all the birds.

5 Frequently Asked Questions About the Garden Bird Count

How long does the counting take?

You get to count for half an hour, just once.

Can you count birds flying overhead?

Birds flying overhead do not enter your yard, so you should not count them.

Does it make sense to submit your count if you've seen (almost) no birds?

Even if you've seen only a few birds, it's still worth reporting, because this, too, can indicate an important trend.

How far can you count them?

You can count all the birds in your garden. If you’d like, you can also count those in your front yard AND backyard, within the same half-hour. Try to avoid counting in areas that other people are also including in their count.

Until when can you submit a count?

You must submit your count by 12:00 p.m. on Monday, January 27, at the latest.

How many birds did you count in your garden this weekend?

Which garden birds do you think you'll see, or have you seen? And what was the most memorable visit?

Share your results or experiences on social media using the hashtag #tuinvogeltelling. For more information about the National Garden Bird Count, visit: Vogelbescherming.nl/tuinvogeltelling