Big Farmland Bird Count 2026: Get set, get ready, get the app

Date: 6 – 22 February 2026 

The start of the national annual census of farmland birds – The Big Farmland Bird Count – begins in a week’s time and we are calling on farmers and other ‘working conservationists’ up and down the country to take part. 

This year it is running on a new digital platform making it easier than ever to take part. 

Run by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and sponsored by the NFU, the concept for the Big Farmland Bird Count (BFBC) was conceived by our conservationists working at the Trust’s demonstration farm the Allerton Project, at Loddington in Leicestershire, more than a decade ago. The first count was held in February 2014, and it has been repeated every year since then.  

The 2026 count begins on Friday 6th February and runs for two weeks, until Sunday 22nd February. This year, we are once again launching the count from Allerton. 

For the past decade the BFBC has been providing vital data that has helped us to understand which species of farmland birds are in the most serious trouble. Many of them have been in decline for the past 50 years, but there are ways in which we can help them during the winter months when food is scarce and temperatures drop. This is exactly what the BFBC tries to highlight. 

As well as providing a snapshot of the bird population on UK farms, the BFBC aims to raise awareness of the important role that farmers and other land managers play in the conservation of our native farmland birds while highlighting the crucial support agri-environment schemes provide to make this happen. 

All the data is now being recorded on the PERDIXPro Fieldbook app, making the processing of your results much simpler and easier. Farmers, rangers, game or forest keepers, ornithologists and other bird enthusiasts taking part can input counts instantly as they record out in the field, or save the form in draft and complete and submit it later. 

The app can be downloaded onto any mobile phone or tablet. There is still the option of filling in a paper version of the count sheet, and either sending it to us, or inputting it yourself later through the app. 

All the details of how to take part, bird identification guides and count sheets, are available on the Big Farmland Bird Count website. 

Collecting data is key

Farmland birds have declined by 63% since 1970 – that equates to 70 million birds in the past 50 years – and more than 60% of farmland birds have been affected by the declines. 

They need our help if we are going to reverse the trend. The key to doing this, and increasing biodiversity, is held by the people who are responsible for the 72% of the UK’s land which is used for agriculture. 

Dr Roger Draycott, GWCT’s director of advisory, says: “Farmers and land managers are the custodians of the countryside – they look after more than 70% of all land in the UK. To demonstrate that the good work they are doing makes a difference, we need data.  

“The Big Farmland Bird Count does exactly that – counts from across the country help us build a national picture of which species are benefiting from conservation efforts, and which are most in need of help.  

“We want as many farmers and land mangers as possible to take part. Downloading the new PERDIXPro Fieldbook app takes seconds and doing the count only takes half an hour. You don’t need to be an expert to do the count as there is plenty of help at hand through bird ID guides and tools such as the Merlin app.” 

David Exwood, NFU deputy president, says: “The NFU is proud to sponsor the Big Farmland Bird Count. It is a fantastic event that we encourage all our members to get involved in. The count gives us a unique insight into our nation’s farmland birds, while showcasing a snapshot of the great work farmers do to protect the environment. 

“From wetlands and hedgerows to woodlands and wildflower meadows, the UK is home to an array of biodiverse farmlands, and the count is a fantastic chance to see first-hand the birds and habitats farmers care so much about preserving. 

 “The Big Farmland Bird Count shows how agri-environment schemes like the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) can make a real difference to the environmental work farmers do. It is vital that the scheme remains accessible for all active farmers so environmental ambitions can continue.” 

Find out how to get involved in the GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count, 6 – 22 February 2026, at www.bfbc.org.uk where downloadable bird guides and other advice are also available.