Time is running out for people who live or work across Greater Manchester to get on board the "Perfect Ten" survey.

The "Perfect Ten" birds of Greater Manchester survey is open until the end of Tuesday (22 June), with the results being announced at 2:50pm on Sunday 27 June via @MancNature on Twitter as a highlight of the virtual Manchester Festival of Nature 2021.

James Walsh, a.k.a. the Mancunian Birder, said: "We are aiming for this survey to be the biggest public consultation about the birds of Greater Manchester and to help us find a bird to represent each borough." 

The "Perfect Ten" survey is a collaboration between the Greater Manchester Birding City Region Project, the Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the Manchester Festival of Nature.

The most popular birds of the ten so far are the Willow Tit in Wigan (84 per cent), the Kingfisher in Bolton (83 per cent), the Tawny Owl in Oldham (79 per cent) and the Mute Swan in Salford (78 per cent).

The Rose-ringed Parakeet in Manchester is the most controversial, with 50 per cent agreeing and 41 per cent disagreeing. However, the colourful Mandarin Duck in Stockport, also a “non-native” species, seems to be proving popular on 77 per cent.

The birds that the highest number of survey respondents reported that they had seen in Greater Manchester are Mute Swan (69 per cent), Rose-ringed Parakeet (63 per cent), Kingfisher (51 per cent), Mandarin Duck (50 per cent) and Peregrine Falcon (39 per cent).

The Red Grouse, a resident of the moorland fringes of the city region, is the bird that the least number of survey respondents (16 per cent) reported that they had seen in Greater Manchester.

However, all this could change as the survey is open up to Tuesday 22 June.

“The anticipation is building ahead of the virtual Manchester Festival of Nature and we want everyone in Greater Manchester to have their say so please complete the survey and send the link to your family and friends!” said James.

You can take part in the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GMPerfect_10