Farmers take part in record breaking Big Farmland Bird Count 8 April 2021 | Surveys were undertaken in every county of England and across much of Scotland, NI and Wales A record number of farmers participated in this year's Big Farmland Bird Count despite February's bad weather and lockdown restrictions. Participation in the annual nationwide survey of farmland birds, which took place between 5-21 February, has more than doubled compared to last year. The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), which organises the initiative, said 2,500 counts were turned in for 2021. This represents a 65 percent increase in the number submitted compared to 2020, which was also a record year.