For the past seven years, I have been involved with Henfield Birdwatch,
a local charity that was set up to monitor the birds of the parish of Henfield on a
5-yearly basis. The first survey was carried out in 1999 to give us a baseline set
of data by which we could monitor the health of the bird population as the 21 st
century progressed. A second survey was carried out last year, and we have
spent the first 10 months of this year analysing all the records and then drawing
them together in a book, which we have just published, 'Henfield Birdwatch
2005'.

One of the major objectives of this project was that it should involve as
many people within the parish as possible, and with this we exceeded all
expectations. In both the surveys over a hundred people took part, and in last
years survey over 40,000 records were entered onto the database, a staggering
amount for a community with a population of just under 6,000. This has turned
outto be one of the biggest community wildlife surveys to be undertaken in the
UK, and is a tribute to the good people of Henfield and to their love and
commitment they show to the birds that live alongside them.

I am sure that this commitment, if harnessed, would be exhibited by a
great many of the citizens of parishes right across Sussex, as, although most
people might not consider themselves to be birdwatchers, most people like
birds, and they particularly like birds that visit their garden or see from their
window. I have just read an article by Monty Don, the presenter of Gardeners
World on television, and at one point he espoused that birds and birdsong
were just as important to gardens as the plants that are grown in them. The
ever-increasing money spent on bird food in winter illustrates that a great many
people agree with him.

This love of seeing birds close too is what we have tapped into in
Henfield. What is more, this great army of non-birdwatching birdwatchers have
produced results that very much reflect the picture compiled from national
surveys organised by the British Trust for Ornithology, which emphasises the
important fact that you don't have to be a scientist or specialist to make a
significant contribution to information about wildlife.

So, what has happened to the birds of Henfield in the five years
between the two surveys? Well, I don't want to tell you too much really as I hope
you might like to buy a copy as it is such a good read! I will tell you however,
that the ten most numerous species to visit gardens are exactly the same, with
only the last three slightly changing order.

By and large, those birds doing badly nationally are faring no better in Henfield,
with a couple of exceptions, and vice versa. We have lost a couple but also gained a couple of new species as well.

I am sure that the picture would be much the same in rural parishes
anywhere else in the County, but unless you count them, you won't know.
People like watching and counting birds, as mass surveys like the BBC's
Springwatch and RSPB's Garden Survey weekend when so many people
participate. What pleases me about Henfield is that commitment to their birds
is ongoing.

If you would like a copy of Henfield Birdwatch 2005 please contact me
on 01273 497560 or by e-mail at , cost £5.75
including p&p.

- by Mike Russell   Sussex Wildlife Trust