1 million take part in record-breaking RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

Top Bird House Sparrow

Over a million people across the UK spent an hour watching the birds that visit their garden or outdoor space, double last year’s participation numbers The Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest wildlife survey and gives RSPB scientists insights into how our garden birds are faring both across the country and here in Merseyside. Many people sought solace in the wildlife in their local area during the worst crisis this country has faced since WW2 The number of nature lovers who took part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch soared to a million people this winter after a year of lockdown restrictions saw people turn to nature for comfort. 

Now in its 42nd year, the Big Garden Birdwatch is a chance for people of all ages to count the number of birds that visit their garden, helping the RSPB build up a picture of how birds are faring. This year, over a million people across the country took part counting 17 million birds, with over 13,000 people taking part across Merseyside. Hopes were raised for a bumper participation year after results from a YouGov survey revealed the pandemic is making the public more aware of nature in their local area, with 41% seeing wildlife near their homes over the last 12 months that they had never noticed before. The YouGov survey of 2,071 adults across the UK revealed 63% of people said watching the birds and hearing their song added to their enjoyment of life since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than half of those surveyed (51%) believing the pandemic has made them more aware of the nature around them.

 When the final Big Garden Birdwatch results were counted, the RSPB was blown away by the phenomenal response from the public. Over the first three days of submissions alone, numbers were up 85% compared to the same time period in 2020. Beccy Speight, RSPB CEO said: “We have been blown away by the enthusiasm with which people have taken part in the Birdwatch this year. Lockdowns have brought few benefits, but the last year has either started or reignited a love of nature for many people, right on their doorsteps. “This winter has been a bleak ordeal but as the dawn chorus starts to burst into song and the blossom starts to flower from the trees once more, we are emerging from this pandemic a new generation of nature lovers. “We hope the Birdwatch has kindled a new passion for wildlife for the thousands who took part for the first time this year – we need every voice raised to stand up for nature. The wildlife that gave us so much interest and solace is now just a fraction of what should be there.

On the back of this wave of public support, we need the government to take the global leadership, policy and legislative opportunities open to it this year to reverse the decline and restore nature now.” The charity is also urging members of the public to take care as they return to the countryside near them as nature’s busiest season is underway. As breeding season begins, birds and other wildlife could be nesting nearby, with over half of England’s most threatened breeding birds nesting on or near the ground. To be sure to help the wildlife near you this spring, be sure to follow the Countryside Code when exploring your local area. 

Male Starling Nester

The Big Garden Birdwatch, which was held over the last weekend in January, revealed that nationally the house sparrow held on to its number one spot, but 16 out of the top 20 bird species showed declines in average counts compared to last year. Starlings slid down the ranking from 2nd place for the first time since 2010, with numbers down 83% since 1979. Further national declines were recorded for greenfinch and chaffinch, with the lowest average for both types of bird ever recorded during the Big Garden Birdwatch.

 

Fighting Cock Robins

Only robins, blackbirds, carrion crows and the song thrush saw an increase on 2020 across the UK. Over its four decades, Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world. It was first to alert the RSPB to the decline in song thrush numbers, which are still down 78% compared to the first Big Garden Birdwatch in 1979. This species was a firm fixture in the top 10 in 1979. By 2009, its numbers were less than half those recorded in 1979, it came in at 20th in the rankings this year, seen in just 9% of gardens.

Big Garden Birdwatch Results 2021

The house sparrow remained at the top of the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings in Merseyside as the most commonly seen garden bird. Found in nearly 54% of Merseyside gardens, across the country more than 2.6 million house sparrows were sighted throughout the weekend. Meanwhile, the starling and blackbird joined house sparrows to form the top three most sighted birds in Merseyside as local people enjoyed watching the wildlife found in their gardens. Beccy added: “One way you can help revive our world is to bring nature to you. Your garden, balcony, and even windowsill are potential havens for wildlife, and in April we’re launching a digital platform, Nature on Your Doorstep, to help show you how.”

Female Blackbird

Throughout the first half of the spring term the nation’s school children took part in the RSPB’s Big Schools Birdwatch. The UK-wide survey of birds in school grounds saw over 21,000 school children and their teachers spend an hour in nature counting the birds. Woodpigeon was the most numerous species seen with an average of 9 per school; and was seen in 85% of all schools that took part. Blackbird was a close second with an average of 8 per school.

Wood Pigeon

 For a full round-up of all the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

results and to see which birds were visiting gardens where you live, visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch Discover more about the RSPB’s exciting new Nature on Your Doorstep resources here: www.rspb.org.uk/yourdoorstep

Record you garden birds all year long with the BTO       https://bto.org/our-science/projects/gbw  

And if you have nesting birds -   https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/gns/about/nesting-neighbours

An extraordinary Long tailed tit!

 What a story of a long tailed tit found in Halewood by a friend of one of our members - Mark Pritchard.

Family fun at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands this February half term

Nesting Great tits

This month sees the British Trust for Ornithology’s annual National Nestbox Week (https://www.bto.org/about-birds/nnbw) take place, and the RSPB is running a fun family quiz trail at Burton Mere Wetlands to celebrate.

Available every day throughout February, families are invited to pick up a quiz sheet at reception between 9.30 am-4.30 pm and follow the trails to discover the variety of nestboxes available to help give nature a home. It is free to take part, though normal admission charges apply to non-members.

There are also Wildlife Explorer backpacks to hire for budding nature detectives and a den building area in the woods to get active and creative.

Whilst some winter flocks will be preparing to leave towards the end of February, others like the iconic avocets normally start arriving at Burton Mere Wetlands around the middle of the month.

From Wednesday to Sunday each week, visitors can pick up some lunch from the on-site catering van, offering a range of hot and cold sandwiches, toasties, paninis and burgers.

Sausage or Bacon? Decisions

Venue: RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands nature reserve, Puddington Lane, Burton, Cheshire, CH64 5SF.

Contact: For further details visit rspb.org.uk/deeestuary.org.uk or phone the visitor centre on 0151 353 8478.

Swan watch

Pen

Called into Stadt moers park  a week ago. http://www.fosmp.btck.co.uk/StadtMoersParkHistory. 

There's a pond on the far side that usually has some waterfowl and grebes. Two swans were present, appeared to be a couple and both ringed, so I took their numbers and sent them off to the swan people.

Two youngsters:

Darvic CFF6 green = Female cygnet, ringed  31st December 2013 at Spike Island Widnes.  (David Cookson, Cheshire Swan Study Group)  

         

Blue Darvic 4ADZ, which was ringed as a male cygnet at Sefton Park on the 20th December 2013. It has been seen at various places in Merseyside, as well as a trip to Pennington Flash at Leigh ! (Wes Halton, North West Swan Study)

Cob

I asked if they might breed? -  'This swan is not quite old enough but strange things have happened'  

Will have to go back and see if their staying😉

Another thing I noticed, which is a little disturbing was the condition of the trees, an awful lot appear to be under siege from the local bunnies? l think the rangers will have to something quickly, a couple of stoats probably wouldn't go a miss!

Tree damage

Laura

HEADS UP! IT'S NATIONAL NESTBOX WEEK

Great tit nestling

Starting on St Valentine's Day,it's the time we remind ourselves to provide homes for dozens of species, from Blue Tits to Barn Owls.

NNBW takes place each year from 14-21 February, and after more than 15 years it is now an established part of the ornithological calendar

Which birds use nest boxes? : http://www.bto.org/about-birds/nnbw/nesting-birds

If you've never built a nest box before, why not give it a go this year? Or if you haven't got the time, it's easy to buy a good one. Go on, take part for Britain's birds!

Blue tit family

The BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) is asking you to put up a nest box in your local area to help increase the number of suitable nesting spaces for birds. Natural nest sites for birds such as holes in trees or old buildings are disappearing fast as gardens are 'tidied' and old houses are repaired.

Anyone can take part whether you're a family with space for a box in your garden, a teacher, a member of a local wildlife group, or you belong to a bird club. You can put up a nest box at any time of the year, though early spring is the best time. It is also a good time to clean out the nest boxes you already have, ready for their next incumbents.


Further information on making, buying and putting up a nest box is available at the BTO site:

NNBW aims to:

Encourage everyone to put up nest boxes in their local area in order to promote and enhance biodiversity and conservation of our breeding birds and wildlife.

The natural nest sites on which many of our bird species depend, such as holes in trees and buildings, are fast disappearing as gardens and woods are ‘tidied’ and old houses are repaired. Since National Nest Box Week was launched in 1997, thousands of enthusiastic naturalists across the UK have put up boxes to compensate for this loss. It is estimated that there are now 5-6 million boxes in gardens across the UK.

Further information on making, buying and putting up a nest box is available at the BTO :  http://www.bto.org/about-birds/nnbw

RSPB links: Create a high home for swifts: http://bit.ly/20PNWTU

        Create a sparrow street: http://bit.ly/1NtvrvS

                Create a cosy starling home: http://bit.ly/1T3ONZA

Sweet little mystery!

Sweet little mystery

On  Tuesday I came across this lovely little finch tucking into some sunflower hearts in my garden,.It was a bit unsual but  best guess was a young greenfinch. He/she was sporting some fine colourful leg rings - red and pink rings right leg , single yellow left. Mmh i'll check this out me thinks!...

Replies

I don't think this is a wild bird. It looks like an aviculturist's canary-greenfinch cross, or something like it, and must have escaped from an aviary. Sorry I can't help more.

Best wishes,
David Norman
Chairman, Merseyside Ringing Group

This might be a bird ringed by a member of public, copying existing colour ringing schemes. The lack of a metal ring indicates that it was not a wild ringed bird, though.

There is no central register for ringed captive bred birds. However, I do believe that most of bird breeders also use a (sometimes coloured) metal ring with individual code on it and possibly another colour ring. 3 colour rings would be quite unusual.

Sorry, but this one probably will remain a mystery.

With best wishes,

Sabine colour ringin @bto

A mystery indeed, I haven't  noticed it around with the other finches over the last couple of days, (it favoured the seed feeder the wild greenfinches use) Assuming it is an ex-aviary bird it's odds on survival may not be good; not having had the benefit of wild parents teaching it alarms and what to look out for!

I wish it luck  

National Nest Box Week is great for birds.

Starting on St Valentine's Day,it's the time we remind ourselves to provide homes for dozens of species, from Blue Tits to Barn Owls.

If you've never built a nest box before, why not give it a go this year? Or if you haven't got the time, it's easy to buy a good one. Go on, take part for Britain's birds!

The BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) is asking you to put up a nest box in your local area to help increase the number of suitable nesting spaces for birds. Natural nest sites for birds such as holes in trees or old buildings are disappearing fast as gardens are 'tidied' and old houses are repaired.

Anyone can take part whether you're a family with space for a box in your garden, a teacher, a member of a local wildlife group, or you belong to a bird club. You can put up a nest box at any time of the year, though early spring is the best time. It is also a good time to clean out the nest boxes you already have, ready for their next incumbents.

The RSPB reports that the record number of birds found roosting in one nestbox is 61 wrens! So you never know what you might find in yours.

Further information on making, buying and putting up a nest box is available at the BTO site:

NNBW aims to:

Encourage everyone to put up nest boxes in their local area in order to promote and enhance biodiversity and conservation of our breeding birds and wildlife.

The natural nest sites on which many of our bird species depend, such as holes in trees and buildings, are fast disappearing as gardens and woods are ‘tidied’ and old houses are repaired. Since National Nest Box Week was launched in 1997, thousands of enthusiastic naturalists across the UK have put up boxes to compensate for this loss. It is estimated that there are now 5-6 million boxes in gardens across the UK.

Further information on making, buying and putting up a nest box is available at the BTO :http://www.bto.org/nnbw/index.htm

New report reveals scale of declines of UK migratory birds wintering in Africa

Turtle dove - Andy Hay

The migration of millions of birds across the face of the planet is one of nature’s greatest annual events. Every spring some species move north, while every autumn those same species move south, very often linking continents.

Although these migration patterns are as regular as the seasons, monitoring is revealing that, for some species, fewer birds are making the journey each season as the populations of these birds, including species nesting in the UK, are declining rapidly.

The latest in the annual series of State of the UK’s Birds report (published today, Thursday 16 October, 2014) includes a migratory birds section, including trends for 29 migrant species which nest in the UK in summer and spend the winter around the Mediterranean, or in Africa south of the Sahara Desert.  For the first time the recent population trends for these migratory species have been combined into an indicator revealing some marked differences between species that winter in different areas.

Species, such as whinchat, nightingale, tree pipit and spotted flycatcher, which winter in the humid zone of Africa – stretching across the continent from southern Senegal to Nigeria and beyond - show the most dramatic declines: the indicator for this group of species has dropped by just over 70 per cent since the late 1980s. This contrasts with species, such as sand martin, whitethroat and sedge warbler, wintering in the arid zone (just below the Sahara desert). These species have fluctuated considerably since 1970, but show a less than 20 per cent decline overall.

Nightingale - Andy Hay

One of the most dramatic declines is that of the turtle dove with a decline of 88 per cent since 1995. The following species have also declined over the same period: wood warbler, 66 per cent; pied flycatcher, 53 per cent; spotted flycatcher, 49 per cent; cuckoo, 49 per cent; nightingale, 43 per cent; and yellow wagtail, 43 per cent.

Concern about migratory bird species is growing and future editions of the State of the UK’s Birds report will contain a regular update to the migratory birds indicator. To understand the changing status of the UK’s migratory birds, researchers need to understand more about what’s driving these declines. Evidence is currently being gathered from a variety of sources including tracking studies and on-the-ground surveys.

Martin Harper, RSPB Conservation Director, said: “West Africa is the winter home for many species bird species that breed in the UK. But many of these birds that cross continents are in rapid decline. Their nomadic lifestyle, requiring sites and resources spread over vast distances across the globe makes identifying and understanding the causes of decline extremely complex. The problems may be in the UK or in West Africa, or indeed on migration in between the two.”

David Noble, Principal Ecologist at BTO said: "We can accurately monitor the patterns of decline in these once-familiar summer breeders thanks to several decades of careful observations by an army of volunteer birdwatchers. More recently, tracking devices have shed light on migratory routes and key wintering areas. To take appropriate action, further study is needed to determine the pressures faced in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as breeding here in the UK.”

Colette Hall, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) Species Monitoring Officer said: “The length of many bird migrations – often thousands of miles – makes it very difficult to pinpoint where and what is causing populations to fall. So the more information we can get all along the migration routes – on land use changes, new infrastructure etc - the better we can target protection measures. It’s important that we help build up the capacity of local bird organisations and volunteers across the world to provide vital information through their own long-term monitoring.”

Alan Law, Director of Biodiversity Delivery at Natural England said: “It is self-evident that effective conservation of a migratory species requires appropriate measures to be in place at each step of the migratory cycle.  For some species, there is growing evidence of pressure on breeding success here in England. Our focus therefore is to ensure that well-managed habitats are available in this country so that migratory species can breed here successfully; this work involves close collaboration with land managers both on designated conservation sites and across the wider farmed countryside”.

David Stroud, Senior Ornithologist with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, said: “Migratory birds depend on conservation actions in all the countries they move through in the course of their annual cycle.  The UK is working with these countries to help improve the condition of their critical habitats through its participation in multi-lateral environmental agreements such as the Biodiversity Convention and the Ramsar Convention on wetlands.”

The State of the UK’s Birds report also covers the UK’s Overseas Territories. The latest evidence reveals mixed fortunes for two important albatross populations in the UK’s Overseas Territories. Seventy per cent of the world’s black-browed albatrosses nest in the Falkland Islands. A population increase here has allowed researchers to downgrade the extinction threat of this species from Endangered to Near Threatened. Sadly, the fortunes of the grey-headed albatross have deteriorated as declines have been reported in nesting colonies on South Georgia, which hosts half the world’s population.

Cuckoo at Lunt meadows- L Bimson

The State of the UK’s Birds report is published by a partnership of eight organisations: RSPB; British Trust for Ornithology; Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust;  Natural Resources Wales; Natural England; Northern Ireland Environment Agency; Scottish Natural Heritage; and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

ends

For further information and to arrange an interview, please contact:

Chris Collett, Communications Manager, 0191 233 4317, 07885 834889

Paul Stancliffe, BTO Media Manager: 01842 750050 / 07585440910; email - paul.stancliffe@bto.org

Mark Simpson, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust press officer: 01453 891138 /  07825 890590

Joint Nature Conservation Committee Press office: tel: 01733 866839, email: communications@jncc.gov.uk

Ellen Softley, Natural England press office: 0300 060 0213/ 07990 804795 ellen.softley@naturalengland.org.uk

BTO's National Nest Box Week 14-21 February

National Nest Box Week is great for birds. Starting on St Valentine's Day,it's the time we remind ourselves to provide homes for dozens of species, from Blue Tits to Barn Owls.

If you've never built a nest box before, why not give it a go this year? Or if you haven't got the time, it's easy to buy a good one. Go on, take part for Britain's birds!

NNBW aims to:

Encourage everyone to put up nest boxes in their local area in order to promote and enhance biodiversity and conservation of our breeding birds and wildlife.

The natural nest sites on which many of our bird species depend, such as holes in trees and buildings, are fast disappearing as gardens and woods are ‘tidied’ and old houses are repaired. Since National Nest Box Week was launched in 1997, thousands of enthusiastic naturalists across the UK have put up boxes to compensate for this loss. It is estimated that there are now 5-6 million boxes in gardens across the UK.

http://www.bto.org/nnbw/index.htm

The Sentinel of the Marshes

Here's a little id  insight for you, look for the white wedges,  excellent photo for you to remember when looking thru you binos. Greenshank no white markings on wings & green legs!  

 Look for the W shape on back in flight.   Redshanks - N prendergast

Redshank -  N Prendergast

The so called  'Sentinel of the marshes'  as it's the first species to take to the air when flushed whilst making an awful lot of noise.

Very good identification video on Shank differences here:

http://www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-id/bto-bird-id-common-shanks

Laura

New report charts ongoing disappearance of the UK's 'familiar' countryside birds

Turtle Dove Andy Hay

The latest State of the UK s Birds report, published today, reveals many of our most familiar countryside birds are undergoing sweeping changes with some experiencing  plummeting population declines, compared with the 1990s. It is now known that in some parts of the UK these birds have disappeared completely.

A section of the report looks at the UK s 107 most widespread and common breeding birds. Of these species, 16 have declined by more than one third since 1995, including willow tit, starling, cuckoo, lapwing, whinchat and wood warbler. Many of these species are reliant on habitats in the so-called  wider countryside  rather than being maintained on special sites, such as nature reserves, Of particular concern, is that the number of grey partridge has halved since 1995.

Yellow Wagtail - Andy Hay

The unique British race of the yellow wagtail - a bright  yellow-headed  version, whose population is found almost entirely in the UK - has declined by 45 per cent over the same period.

This year the alarming decline of some of the UK s most familiar countryside birds has been brought into sharp focus with the launch of the Bird Atlas 2007-11, published by the BTO last month. That mammoth mapping project covered all of the UK's breeding and wintering birds and revealed how many countryside birds are disappearing from the UK. For example, yellow wagtails have vanished from large areas of England and virtually disappeared from Wales, whilst the range of the turtle doves has shrunk by 34 per cent just since the previous atlas was undertaken in 1988-91.

Dr Mark Eaton is an RSPB conservation scientist. Commenting on the report, he said:  I think many of us have been shocked by how poorly some of our most familiar species are faring. Many of the birds were referring to arent rare and dont occur in remote locations. To the contrary, they are ones you used to see while walking the dog or enjoying a family picnic. But over two decades many of these species have ebbed away from huge swathes of our countryside. In contrast some species, such as the red kite, have become conservation success stories as this species has returned to our countryside.

The list of familiar countryside birds which are declining include:   Willow tit, a woodland bird which has declined by 82 per cent since 1995 and its range has halved over the last two decades; 

Cuckoo - L Bimson

Cuckoo, whose numbers have halved since 1995. The latest bird atlas reveals that although its range has contracted by just eight per cent over the last 40 years, though there are marked declines in abundance in the south and east of Britain;  Whinchat, a bird of open countryside which has declined in number by 60 per cent since 1995, and in range by 48 per cent over the last 40 years; Starling, a bird of urban areas and farmland whose population

has decreased by 53 per cent since 1995. The atlas reveals that its range has contracted by five per cent over the last 40 years with a steep decline in abundance in Britain, and an increase in Northern Ireland; wood warbler, a summer-visiting woodland bird, which has  endured a 69 per cent decline since 1995, and a range contraction of 34 per cent since the 1970s; Yellow wagtail, a bird of farmland and wetland which has experienced a 45 per cent decline in numbers since 1995. The atlas reveals that the yellow wagtail s range has contracted by 32 per cent;  Lapwing, a bird of farmland and wetland which has endured a 41 per cent population decline since 1995. The atlas reveals that their range has contracted by 18 per cent over the last 40 years, with the greatest losses in western Britain and Northern Ireland; 

Snipe - L Bimson

 Snipe, a wetland bird whose breeding range has shrunk by 31 per cent over the last 40 years;  Grey partridge, a farmland bird whose population has declined by 53 per cent since 1995 and whose range has contracted by 40 per cent

over the last 40 years;  Corn bunting, a farmland bird whose population has declined by 34 per cent since 1995. The atlas shows that the corn buntings distribution has contracted by 56 per cent over the last 40 years; and the species is now extinct in Ireland.

Phil Grice is a senior environmental specialist   Ornithology at Natural England. He said:  Whilst we have made great progress with reversing the declines in many of our rarer bird species, thanks to site management and species recovery work, improving the fortunes of our  wider countryside  birds requires us to think beyond good management of our special sites, like SSSIs. Through Environmental Stewardship and initiatives like Nature Improvement Areas, we are working in close partnership with farmers and other land managers to make a difference for biodiversity across whole landscapes, allowing people to experience England s characteristic wildlife close to where they live .

Colette Hall is a species monitoring officer with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. She said:  There s worrying evidence here that the breeding ranges of many of our waders are drastically shrinking. Were loosing much-loved species like snipe or lapwing completely from southern parts of England now. A main cause seems to be loss of habitat due to wetlands being drained for farming or development. We need to protect and restore these habitats in order for species like these   and all wetland wildlife   to survive and prosper.

However, the report is not all bad news. Following its reintroduction into England and Scotland and its ongoing recovery in Wales thr red kite

Blackcap - LBimson

has increased in number by 676 per cent since 1995. Among songbirds, the goldfinch and the blackcap have also increased their populations since 1995 by 109 per cent and 133 per cent, respectively. 

Dawn Balmer, of the British Trust for Ornithology, is the lead author on the recently-published bird Atlas. She said:  The latest findings  from fieldwork carried out by an army of volunteers for the atlas, provides a unique opportunity to assess changes in range for all UK species over winter and the during the breeding season. One of the most striking changes is for avocet which has expanded its range in the UK more than 17-fold over the last 40 years. Better monitoring of non-native species has also revealed the extent of their spread, such as a 50 per cent increase for Canada goose since 1988 91.

The State of the UK s Birds report also looks at how birds are faring in the UK s Overseas Territories. Although across these territories  globally there are 32 species of bird facing extinction, the report delivers good news for some species, including the Ascension  frigatebird and Murphy s petrel, as a result of concerted conservation action.

David Stroud of JNCC said:  The UK s Overseas Territories contain more species of bird facing extinction than the whole of mainland Europe.  Twenty-one of these species occur nowhere else in the world, so the UK has sole and total responsibility for them.

The State of the UK s Birds 2013 report is produced by a coalition of three NGOs - RSPB, British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), and the  Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust   and the UK Government s statutory nature

conservation bodies    Natural England (NE), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. (JNCC).

National Nest Box Week

Fancy & Fernando raised 7 chicks in 2009
http://www.rspbliverpool.org.uk/Nestcam09.htm

Welcome to National Nest Box Week

If you've never built a nest box before, why not give it a go this year? Or if you haven't got the time, it's easy to buy a good one. Go on, take part for Britain's birds!National Nest Box Week is great for birds. Starting on St Valentine's Day, it's the time we remind ourselves to provide homes for dozens of species, from Blue Tits to Barn Owls.

NNBW aims to:

Encourage everyone to put up nest boxes in their local area in order to promote and enhance biodiversity and conservation of our breeding birds and wildlife.

The natural nest sites on which many of our bird species depend, such as holes in trees and buildings, are fast disappearing as gardens and woods are ‘tidied’ and old houses are repaired. Since National Nest Box Week was launched in 1997, thousands of enthusiastic naturalists across the UK have put up boxes to compensate for this loss. It is estimated that there are now 5-6 million boxes in gardens across the UK.

NNBW is organised each year by the British Trust for Ornithology

 http://www.bto.org/nnbw/index.htm

Baby Great Tits, ready to fledge

 

•