We’re sorry to ruin the age-old
tradition of feeding bread to the
ducks – but baked goods are no
good for birds. Bread goes mouldy
quickly, which can make birds ill. It’s
also the ultimate “junk food”, filling
their stomachs without giving them
the nutrients they require. And if
thrown into water, it can feed huge,
unsightly algal blooms that suffocate
all other wildlife. Luckily, seeds, dried
oats and chopped fruit and nuts all
make excellent alternatives.
7
Take part
in a local
bird count
Ponds attract a great variety of
wildlife, which in turn attract a
wealth of fascinating bird species for
you to enjoy from your window. But
even a bird bath will work wonders,
while providing countless photo
opportunities for the keen bird
photographer. It only needs to be a
few centimetres deep for the birds to
drink and bathe – just make sure to
clean it out once a week with a stiff
brush, and if cats are lurking, put the
bath on a pedestal.
6
provide
water
5
Don’t feed
birds
bread
February saw two big citizen science
events in the form of the Big Garden
Birdwatch, organised by the RSPB
(BirdLife in the UK), and the Great
Backyard Bird Count, headed by
Audubon. Ordinary citizens had
great fun recording their local birds,
while providing scientists with crucial
information. And initiatives like this
exist all over the world. There’s even
a continent-wide one in the form of
Eu