Count with us! The hour of the winter birds begins on the weekend!

Count with us! The hour of the winter birds begins on the weekend!

Diefenbachgasse 35/1/6, 1150 Wien, Österreich - The popular participation campaign "Hour of the winter birds" will start next weekend, which was launched by BirdLife Austria from January 4th to 6th January 2025. Bird enthusiasts from all over Austria are called to watch birds in their own garden, from the window or in the park and report their observations on the BirdLife website. It is not about exact inventory figures, but about grasping trends and frequencies of different bird species, such as Meisen, Finken and Dresseln, as well as birdlife Austria reports.

The counting campaign is aimed at all interested nature lovers, regardless of previous knowledge. Gábor Wichmann, Managing Director of Birdlife Austria, emphasizes: "Every single count is just a snapshot, but still a valuable component. Even if you don't see a bird, this is an important information for us!" A crucial fact is that the bird species are strongly influenced by the current weather conditions. Evelyn Hofer, project manager of the campaign, explained that when the snow cover is closed and frosty temperatures, many bird species, especially those from higher locations, come into the lower settlements in search of food. Participation this year is particularly exciting, since in Western Austria increased snowfall could lead to more birds in the cities.

participating is simple!

Participation in the "hour of winter birds" only requires an hour and a place with a good view - be it in the garden, on the balcony or in a park. During the counting time, the participants register the highest number of birds that are visible at the same time. If you want to participate, you can request the participation folder online or order directly via BirdLife Austria. The results can be reported on the corresponding platform by January 14th. Wichmann invites everyone: "The more people participate, the more meaningful the results become." The counting campaign is not only very popular in Austria, but is also carried out in Germany and other countries, which underlines their importance.