FAMILIES in the Vale of Evesham are set to take part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch on January 26 and 27 - the UK's biggest garden bird survey.

The survey will find out which birds "rule the roost" in most gardens and will also help flag-up birds in trouble. The Big Garden Birdwatch was one of the first surveys to show a fall in song thrush numbers in gardens.

All that people are asked to do is spend one hour counting birds in their garden or local park and record the highest number of each bird species seen at any one time. Mornings are the best time to look because the birds are feeding after the cold winter nights.

Andy Waters at the RSPB said: "The survey is great fun and very popular. We hope that everyone who enjoys birds will be able to help us build up a picture of how garden birds are faring everywhere."

Survey forms are available from the RSPB website www.rspb.org.uk/ birdwatch, and survey results can be sent to the same address.

Big Garden Birdwatch packs can be obtained by writing to The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, Somers House, Somers Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 9DU or by phone on 0870 601 0215.

Last year's Big Garden Birdwatch results for Worcestershire were: 1 House sparrow (average of 3.3 seen during one hour watching), 2 Blue Tit (3.1), 3 Blackbird (2.5), 4 Starling (2.4), 5 Greenfinch (1.8), 6 Chaffinch (1.8), 7 Great Tit (1.5), 8 Robin (1.4), 9 Collared Dove (0.9), 10 Woodpigeon (0.8).