Rspb birdwatch

Did the rspb birdwatch this morning, spent an hour just watching, surprising what you can learn, kind of opened my eyes to what you put out for the birds, it can mean life or death to them, so much fighting just to get something to eat, jewel for me was watching a robin strutting it's stuff in front of two others, puffing out it's chest and moving from side to side, (seems like a male thing) never ever seen that before.

 

Unfortunately I never seem to get round to doing it
I love my birdies though, last week they where making it known that I hadn't defrosted the bird bath
Braver souls than I. Imagine bathing in those temps

 

@Loki
I'm sure the birdies are more bothered about you loving them than wether you do the survey or not

 

I do it every year and have done so for many years. All the info I am asked for is relevant, habitat details such as size of garden, tree size, whether you have a pond or other wildlife area, what food you have put out for the birds during the survey time, distance from farmland, rural, suburban or urban. All of this influences the birds you attract to your garden or can expect to see from your garden.

I would encourage people, both birders and non birders to participate. It's important for people to engage with nature.

 

Totally agree with the above shiney. I did it one year and kept getting emails of expensive items they wanted me to buy. I do feed my birds & Fox throughout the year.

 

@shiney, @john558 I understand how you both feel, I hate that sort of thing myself but been doing it for a few years now and most things are optional and I've opted out of any communications and they have been true to that.

 

@shiney I hope you don't think I'm trying to talk you round because I totally, totally respect your views, one thing I can say with certainty is whatever we join or don't join I'm sure the gardening community has a healthy respect for the wellbeing of wildlife

 

The value of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch is that it engages people with some of the wildlife in their gardens and for those that don’t have gardens the count can be done in the local park. For a few days people connect through this activity, with each other and with nature. It encourages beginners to learn the names and ID features of some of our more common birds. It can spark a lifetime interest and awareness in birds in some people. And most people will agree that with 80% of the UK population living in towns and cities, connecting with nature is declining, particularly for today’s children.

The RSPB is a charity and 90% of their income goes directly to conservation. They get little if any funding from the government these days so donations from the public are vital for their work. I make no apologies for them for asking for email addresses from Big Garden Birdwatch participants. It is easy enough to unsubscribe from their emails later. I do not work for the RSPB but I am a member.

Glad to see so many birds in your garden @shiney and congratulations on the wildlife trust award.

 

WE'm the same as Shiney, we do has much as we can for all wildlife here
2018 food for wildlife

Sunflower 175kg
Mealworm pellets 178.5 kg
Seed 75kg
Peanuts 100kg
Niger 25kg
Porridge oats 175kg

Tell me not to look again at the invoices

 

Help wanted please: For the last couple of days there has been a White bird, the same size as a Pigeon but with wings the size of a Seagull. This bird appears to fly around the same as a Seagull. Oh and it doesn't walk the same as a Pigeon. Sorry no pic as yet.

 

Probably a Black-headed Gull @john558 . In winter plumage they lack the black head. Can’t be sure without a picture though. Google Black-headed Gull in google images.