In less than a fortnight, half a million people across the UK will take part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch.
In celebration of the event, which sees people counting birds in their gardens for one hour on the weekend of 30-31 January, we're renewing our call for your garden bird photographs – just add them to our Big Garden Birdwatch 2010 Flickr group. For inspiration, take a look at what Guardian readers submitted for last year's Flickr group. We'll run a gallery of our 10 favourite pictures after the event, followed by a poll to find the one you like best.
Whether braving the outdoors within observation tents or watching through your window with a cup of tea, this collaboration of UK bird-watchers is the largest of its kind and will provide a comprehensive snapshot of how many nuthatches, woodpigeons, sparrows and magpies are gracing us with their presence.
In 2008 the results showed a huge rise in sightings of garden finches and a sharp decline in the song thrush, while 2009 saw tiny long-tail tits grow in numbers. We'll find out what trend the recent colder weather has had, if any, when this year's results are published in March.
For 2010 the Big Schools Birdwatch has also given birth to the Little Schools' Birdwatch – which is designed to educate and inspire three- to five-year-olds. To take part, children are setting up feeders near their classroom windows so they can keep track of bird activity during one day.
So whether it's you or your child taking part, please share your photos – there's no need to wait until the 30th as the group is open now. As the birdwatch is limited to the UK, please only submit photos taken in the UK.
