The Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s biggest wildlife survey, held every January and organised by the RSPB. It’s designed for everyone, from bird-loving beginners to seasoned birdwatchers, and taking part couldn’t be simpler.

All you need to do is set aside one hour over the Birdwatch weekend and count the birds you see, whether that’s in your garden, from a balcony or window, or in a local park.

At Babipur, we love turning moments like this into something hands-on and meaningful for children. Birdwatching pairs beautifully with craft, art and play, helping learning settle in gently and naturally.

When is the Big Garden Birdwatch 2026?

The Big Garden Birdwatch 2026 runs from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th January 2026.

You can choose any one hour during the weekend, making it easy to fit around family life.

Why is the Big Garden Birdwatch important?

Over the past 50 years, the UK has lost an estimated 38 million birds, with many once-common species now in serious decline.

The Big Garden Birdwatch helps build a clear picture of how bird populations are changing year on year. With over a million people taking part each year, it provides one of the most valuable long-running wildlife datasets in the UK.

For children, it’s also a gentle introduction to:

• noticing the natural world
• recognising patterns and differences
• understanding that nature needs care

Fun Garden Bird Crafts for Kids

If you’re taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch, why not turn it into a creative weekend? Crafting birds, feeders and play scenes helps children connect what they see outside with what they make inside.

We’ve been getting creative with some simple, hands-on ideas that work beautifully for children of different ages.

DIY Pinecone Bird Feeders

Emma from Team Babipur has been trying this at home with her little ones. It’s a simple, low-prep activity that’s ideal for small hands and short attention spans.

You’ll need:

• A pinecone
• String
• Peanut butter
• Bird seed

How to make it:

1. Tie the string securely around your pinecone.
2. Gently warm the peanut butter so it spreads easily.
3. Roll the pinecone in peanut butter until covered.
4. Sprinkle with bird seed and hang outside.

A lovely way to talk about what birds eat, especially in winter.

Step by step instructions

1. Tie your string around your pinecone.
2. Gently heat peanut butter on a plate.
3. Roll your pinecone in the peanut butter until it's covered.
4. Sprinkle your bird feed and it's ready to go!

DIY Cardboard Bird Feeders

Amy has been making these simple cardboard bird feeders at home with Tilly. They’re easy to adapt for different ages and use mostly things you’ll already have around the house.

You’ll need:

• Thick cardboard (an upcycled Babipur box works well)
• Lanka Kade wooden animals or birds
• String
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Peanut butter
• Bird seed

How to make it:

1. Draw around the wooden figures onto the cardboard and cut them out.
2. Poke a hole at the top of each piece and thread the string through.
3. Spread peanut butter over the cardboard and press into bird seed.
4. Hang your feeders in the garden.

A simple activity that supports fine motor skills and gives children a hands-on way to think about which birds might visit.

Finger Paint Bird Art

Amy and Tilly have also been enjoying some finger paint bird art. It’s a lovely, open-ended activity that works well for a wide age range and encourages children to notice shape, colour and pattern.

You’ll need:

• Finger paints such as OkoNorm
• Paper
• Craft glue
• A few small twigs
• A black pen

How to make it:

1. Arrange and glue the twigs onto the paper to create branches.
2. Dip fingers into the paint and make prints across the page.
3. Once the paint is dry, use the pen to add wings, beaks, eyes and feet.

Each bird ends up with its own personality, and children often start comparing sizes, colours and markings without being prompted.

Cardboard Play Dough Bird Crafts

Hannah has been using OkoNorm playdough with her little ones, filling cardboard bird outlines and exploring shape, colour and texture.

OkoNorm playdough is soft, tactile and easy for small hands to manipulate, which makes it perfect for early mark-making and imaginative play. Because it’s made with carefully chosen ingredients, it feels lovely to work with and grows with the child as they experiment with pressing, rolling and shaping.

Draw outlines of common garden birds onto pieces of cardboard, then let children fill them in with playdough. They can pinch and press the dough into place, changing colour and texture as they go.

This kind of play supports hand strength and coordination, while also giving children time to really look at beaks, wings and bodies. The cardboard boards can be reused again and again, or painted for a more permanent piece of art once the play is finished.

A wonderfully sensory way to learn some common garden bird identification that’s fun for kids of all ages! The great thing about this is that you can reuse the cards and playdough again, or for a more permanent craft, use finger paints.

DIY Cardboard Bird Hotel

Make a bird hotel from a recycled cardboard Babipur box. This ingenious cardboard box craft makes a fabulous display for your beautiful wooden bird collection, complete with feeders and perches!

Garden Bird Scavenger Hunt

Here's a simple and engaging activity to suit children's curious nature!

Cut out garden bird silhouettes from cardboard, paint them with OkoNorm finger paints and hide them around the garden for your kids to find.

By exploring the different birds features and discovering where you might spot them is a fun way for little children to learn to recognise these feathered friends.