Sandy's Garden ... Where Are All The Birds?

Yes, these are the very same words with which I began my column last week.

I have written … just a short week ago … of the absence of birds from my garden during this present spell of cold weather. I have ascribed the paucity of bird numbers near me to the fact that I have not been regularly putting out food for them; and that, just as we would not go to a shop seeking some item that we thought that shop did not stock, so birds will not waste valuable feeding time on short winter days searching for food in gardens where they do not expect to find any.

Our rowan tree was stripped of every berry long ago and all our desirable seed-bearing plants have long since given up all their accessible seed to questing birds.

But it is not I who wonder where all dem boidies is this time.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) which is inviting us to – Join thousands of people taking part to see the drama unfold on your doorstep – and assuring us that, while, ‘We might not be able to get together with loved ones at the moment, you can make plans with friends and family to take part in the world’s largest wildlife survey, all from the comfort of your own homes.’

There’s a three-part plan for anyone and everyone to follow, a plan which is simplicity itself, doesn’t take long and costs little or nothing. And how many activities can promise all of these benisons?

First, you must pick a time. ‘You can choose any hour between 29 and 31 January. So whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, you can still take part,’ the RSPB promise.

Having done this, you should proceed to part two of the plan. ‘Count the birds you see in your garden or from your balcony.’

‘Take part in the safety of your own home. This could include a birdwatch from your window if you overlook a green space or courtyard.’ For the avoidance of doubt, gardens are included in green spaces and courtyards.

And you should, ‘Ignore any birds that are still in flight. To avoid double-counting, just record the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not a running total.’

Then comes the third part; the RSPB wants to know what you have seen, either online at rspb.org.uk/birdwatch between 29 January and 19 February or by post on a submission form you can download from that website, posting your results before 15 February.

And why does the RSPB want your observations? Well, the Society now has over 40 years of data which have helped increase an understanding of the challenges faced by wildlife.

But, since there are seldom any birds in my garden right now, I can’t participate in the Big Garden Birdwatch, right?

Wrong! As well as knowing where the birds are, the RSPB wants to know where they aren’t!

So yes, I can go to rspb.org.uk/birdwatch, read all about it, download as much of the range of helpful information as I want and become a twitcher for an hour at least!