Garden Birds – Connect with Wildlife on your Doorstep

Another year, and unfortunately another Lockdown.  Here in Wales (as elsewhere) that means we cannot venture far from our own front doors and obviously this can have a massive impact on our mental and physical health.  There is however a sense of well-being that can be gained from connecting with nature, and if you are lucky enough to live in Wales, that is never far away.  It is possible to engage with the nature that is all around us, even in our towns and cities.

I am reminded of how loud the birdsong sounded during those first few weeks of Lockdown 1, and actually Lockdown birds really did sing a different tune when our towns and cities went quiet!  It was scientifically proven by an American study that urban sparrows really did ‘up their game’ to attract a mate during Lockdown. It showed that since they did not have to compete with noise from human activity, they were able to improve their vocal performance and develop new repertoires during that time.

Many people have commented that during Lockdown they had time to watch the birds in their garden, and to notice birdsong.  Among them were several notable celebrities including Sir David Attenborough, who is quoted as saying that he spent lockdown ‘listening to birds’ in his own garden, “A lot of people have suddenly realised that deep, profound joy can come from witnessing the rest of the world – the natural world”.

Gardener and broadcaster, Monty Don, was also keen to point out that Nature is not something happening elsewhere, “What I want to stress is that wildlife and nature and the environment is here, on your back door, now – outside your window.”

Winter might not seem like the best time to watch and listen to birds but for the last 40 years the RSPB has been asking the public to do just that.  Every January, thousands of volunteers from all over the UK take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch by spending an hour counting the numbers and different types of birds that visit their garden. This amazing data has enabled the RSPB to gain real insight and valuable information into our native birds and how they have fared over the last 40 years.  Not surprisingly there have been winners and losers, with some species increasing in numbers and others showing a decline.

Whilst 83 percent of people in the UK have their own garden or access to one, you don’t have to have a garden to take part in the event, as you can also count birds from a balcony or at your local park.  This year’s RSPB Big Garden Watch takes place on 29-31 January 2021, and it’s great for involving children and helping them to connect with nature.  Why not download the RSPB Bird ID chart (available in English and Welsh) or encourage more birds to visit you by leaving food out for them?

For more information on taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Watch or to register visit the RSPB website at: www.rspb.org.uk

Of course, you don’t have to wait for an organised event to watch the wildlife in your own garden.  Why not make your own bird food? Making easy homemade bird food rings from birdseed and lard (leftover from Christmas Roasties and still lurking in the fridge?) is another great activity for children.

Who knows who might visit the bird feeder? One of our team has Ring-necked parakeets living wild in her suburban garden in the West Midlands!  Apparently, they are there all year round, seem to thrive in our weather (climate change?) and make plenty of noise.

Cold, wet January may not be the ideal time to engage with wildlife, but let’s face it, we all need a distraction and having the time to appreciate the wonders on our own doorstep may just help get us through. In the longer term, helping children connect with the natural world will also do wildlife a favour too.

Wishing all our clients a Happy and Healthy 2021.