Spotting Feathered Friends: Counting Birds from Kestrel to Sparrow - Berliners Welcome to Participate
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Observers in Berlin urged to record bird sightings - Citizens of Berlin Express Demand for Avian Census
Buzzards and peregrine falcons soar above the Berlin skyline, while the vivid, striking kingfisher resides within the city limits. But what other winged creatures can Berliners spot, and how many of them call this city home? The Nature Conservation Federation (NABU) and the Bavarian Nature Conservation Association (LBV) aim to discover the answer and are urging the public to join in. During the "Garden Bird Hour" event from May 9 to 11, people are invited to participate in a city-wide bird count.
Those interested in joining the city center count can look out for the chaffinch, suggests NABU Berlin. Chaffinches are identifiable by their red faces and yellow wing stripes and are commonly known as the common rosefinch. The redstart, with its distinctive bobbing red tail, is particularly visible in the outskirts of the city. Common city dwellers, such as sparrows and pigeons, should also be accounted for.
In 2023, an impressive total of 36,000 birds were documented in Berlin.
To get involved: Enthusiasts observe birds from a quiet spot in their garden, park, or window and tally the highest species count in an hour. Results can be submitted online, through an app, or by mail. The nature conservation associations hope to gain insights into current bird population trends that can supplement official census data. Last year, 1,980 Berliners participated, counting a total of 36,000 birds.
Berlin's NABU groups have extended invitations for participants to join guided tours during the counting weekend. The Lichtenberg district group will be counting on May 11 at 9:00 AM in the Wartenberger field. Families with children can participate on May 10 at 2:00 PM in the Rummelsburger Bucht.
- Berlin
- Nature Conservation Federation
- Birds
- Bird species
- Metropolitan area
- Urban areas
- Weekend
- LBV
Berlin's metropolitan area is a thriving habitat for a myriad of bird species, both permanent and migratory. Common species include the Canada Goose, Mandarin Duck, Mallard, Common Wood-Pigeon, crows, doves, swans, and sparrows, according to regional eBird checklists and local wildlife surveys[1][2]. Recent data highlights the variety of birds in Berlin, with over 127 species identified in May 2025, and popular spots like the Großer Tiergarten recording around 50 species during the migration season[2].
Other notable species include the Common Shelduck, Black Tern, and Osprey[2]. For the 2024 "Garden Bird Hour" event organized by NABU/LBV in Berlin, the exact number of species documented is not specified in the available sources. However, Berlin's region typically features high diversity, with numbers similar to those reported in recent eBird checklists (around 120–130 species in spring)[2]. For the most accurate count, consult the official NABU Berlin or NABU national results pages.
- The Nature Conservation Federation (NABU) and the Bavarian Nature Conservation Association (LBV) are encouraging the public to participate in a city-wide bird count called the "Garden Bird Hour", aiming to gather insights about the current bird population trends in Berlin.
- Berliners are encouraged to observe birds from a quiet spot in their garden, park, or window, tally the highest species count in an hour, and submit their results online, through an app, or by mail during the event held from May 9 to 11.
- Thus, by joining the city-wide bird count, every Berliner can contribute to supplementing the official census data about the city's bird population.
- Besides common species such as sparrows, crows, and doves, the communal policy invites residents to spot less common species such as the redstart, chaffinch, kingfisher, Canada Goose, and even the Osprey, expanding their knowledge of the diverse avian life within the city limits.
