News and updates
Make your garden a bird refuge
Nigel Puddy, Retail and Administration Manager, Somerlap Forest Products
Bird populations are not static but vary, year to year, from the effect of natural causes. However, it is recognised that man has had a significant impact on these population shifts and recent assessments have revealed that habitat destruction is the single most important danger to both birds and wildlife in general. Urban sprawl and agricultural development have replaced and fragmented natural habitats and those that remain have been depleted by the use of pesticides.
Since the 1970s, a number of species have seen an overall decrease in numbers; for instance, between 1970 and 2004, house sparrow populations fell by 64% and starlings by 72%. By contrast, over the same period, blue tit populations increased by 33% and greenfinch by 52%. Figures for the period 2005 to 2006 show a more general decline in numbers across the species including house sparrows down a further 6%, starlings 5%, wrens 10% and blackbirds 3%. (Sources: BTO Common Bird Survey 1970 - 2004. Breeding Bird Survey 2005-2006)
A cold winter may reduce the numbers of robins, wrens and
blue tits, although leaving larger birds, such as starlings and
blackbirds, less affected
Gardens therefore can be a useful refuge for birds affected by changes in our countryside and they will be attracted to your garden if it provides food, water and shelter. This is particularly important in winter when a prolonged cold spell can kill many birds through starvation and exposure - the smaller the bird, the more likely it is to be affected. As a result, a cold winter may reduce the numbers of robins, wrens and blue tits, although leaving larger birds, such as starlings and blackbirds, less affected.
Providing good quality bird food is the first step in creating a refuge. Remember to feed regularly but, as chicks can easily choke, do not include seeds and nuts in the spring when natural sources of food become more readily available. A visit to the RSPB website www.rspb.org.uk will provide all you need to know on what, when and how to feed.
If you already have bird feeders in place, activity around them will increase in the coming months, so now is a good time to give both feeders and bird baths a good clean with hot water or a mild veterinary disinfectant to cut down the risk of infection.
For shelter, a wide range of nesting and roosting pockets are commercially available. The Somerlap Forest Products range offers a choice of sizes and types to suit different species and has been designed for birds and not simply for use as a garden decoration. Details on bird and other wildlife habitats can be found on the Wildlife page.
The provision of habitat and food will not only add interest and enjoyment to your garden, but also provide children with a great opportunity to learn. Most youngsters have an instinctive curiosity about the natural world around them and the more they know about birds and the environment, the greater the possibility of them maintaining an interest in conservation in later life. The "kids" pages on the RSPB website is packed with information and projects for young people and well worth a visit.