Among the many enquiries from supporters which my team handles each day, the most popular – and our favourites – are the photos of birds and ID requests. Whether they are common birds or something unusual and rare, we get the same excitement because it shows someone is taking an interest in birds – and this is excellent news.
It is good for people and birds alike. Birdsong has been shown to improve our mental health, so developing an interest and building a nature fix into your day, wherever you are, is likely to give you a boost. And this interest means more people caring about nature, which is vital.
There is a notion that to fully appreciate birds, you need to be in the countryside and watching them through binoculars, but the truth is, birds are all around us – you just need to know where to look and get in the habit of tuning in to them. It is a great skill to have and one you can take everywhere you go.
September means it is now officially the end of the breeding season for most birds, and the beginning of weeks of transition, where summer visitors prepare to head South and we prepare for an intake of winter migratory birds, so there is lots going on if you are switched on to the birds around you.
Towns and cities
There are increasing numbers of birds living in the UK’s towns and cities, which is hardly surprising, given how developed our landscape has become. Birds such as sparrows and pigeons have adapted to live alongside humans because our actions help to provide food sources. In turn, even birds of prey such as the peregrine falcon and sparrowhawk have followed them to urban areas, needing to be near their prey.
Temperatures are a degree or two higher in town and city centres because of the infrastructure, and in cold weather, a little more warmth can make the difference in surviving the night. Starlings often roost in urban areas for this reason, leading to some spectacles as they rise in murmurations before settling down together for the night.
The first thing to do is look up – birds such as peregrines like to use high ledges as perches, giving them excellent vantage points from which to watch their prey. Then, look around – birds don’t notice that they are foraging on a nondescript roundabout or in the most mundane spots in town. Urban areas planted with a selection of shrubs and trees will provide a good food source and possibly roosting spots too. Pied wagtails, handsome black-and-white birds, are often spotted in supermarket car parks, bobbing furiously as they pick around for food. Keep your eyes peeled when you next go to shop.
If you see a bird you don’t recognise, use our RSPB ID guide to find out what it is called. Learning the names of birds helps you to remember they are not all “just little brown ones” and, before you realise it, you will be recognising all the different birds you see regularly.
Woodland spots
Birds love trees, so seeing them here will be a doddle, right? Well, yes and no. Trees provide a useful perch for birds, whether to rest or gain the perfect vantage point, but they are not always the easiest places to see them. So clues can be super-helpful.
For example, small, dark pellets underneath a tree will tell you that this is an owl’s favourite spot, and, similarly, lots of bird droppings around a number of trees could mean this is a roost, maybe for crows or starlings.
Woodlands start to come into their own at this time of year, so they are amazing places to spend a bit of time. As fruits ripen and start to fall, look out for jays searching for acorns, while warblers such as chiffchaff stock up on berries and seeds alongside any insects they can find, before their long migratory flight.
Countryside
What you will see is very dependent on the landscape – from walking in hilly regions to being on flat ground or along rivers or farm fields. What you can do is start to recognise features that will attract birds. If there is an odd tree dotted about a heathland, look for birds such as stonechat, with their beautiful orange chests sat right at the top. If something provides a good perch or a food source – rocky ledges on hillsides, a stubbly field, a berry-laden hedgerow – you are in with a great chance of spotting something.
Coast
Binoculars will be an advantage here, especially at this time of year, as birds are often out to sea. Listening is another helpful thing at the coast, as some birds can look quite familiar but their calls help tell them apart. Gulls can look similar, but a kittiwake, for example, has a distinctive call – not surprisingly, it sounds like “kitt-i-wake”.
It is also a great place to see migrating birds, either passing overhead or stopping off in estuaries such as The Wash on the east coast of England, to feed and rest on their journeys or maybe to stay for the winter. RSPB Snettisham, Frampton Marsh and Titchwell are great places to see large flocks of waders, which can be spectacular.
Never forget, you can also look out for birds from your window, with a cup of tea. Birds really are everywhere. You could be in a boat or at a desk and be able to see something that brings a little bit of joy. Now isn’t that worthwhile?
How to help halt bird decline
While you can see birds wherever you are, their numbers are sadly declining rapidly: our developments and activities are pushing them into smaller and smaller spaces.
But you can help, from things on your doorstep, such as putting a feeder on your balcony, a swift box under your eaves or planting a tree if you have a garden, to getting involved in bigger community projects to help nature thrive across our landscape. Visit rspb.org.uk for lots of ideas.
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