Keeping a record of the birds we see is one of the most useful aspects of our birdwatching. Although we may not think that our own records are very significant, when combined with records from other birders in the same area they provide a valuable historical archive. Over time, records can be compared and will highlight changes in the patterns of occurrence of species as well as details of their breeding, distribution and movements.
Recording birds regularly from the same site can contribute to a greater understanding of its ornithological value and may provide important information for safeguarding the site. This gives real conservation value to our records.