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Get started in

birdwatching

You don’t need much

equipment to get started,

it’s a great way of getting

outside and there’s never

been a better time to get

started! There are plenty

of wonderful books to help

learn all those bird names,

as well as social media

communities of like-minded

people ready to give a

helping hand or offer advice.

To set you on your journey,

here’s the RSPB’s guide to

getting into birdwatching.

Start off small: It can seem

daunting, especially with so

many bird species but garden

birds are a great place to

start your birdwatching

adventure. They are some

of the easiest to identify

and tend to hang around for

easier identifi cation.

You’ll soon fi gure out the

regulars – the territorial

robins fi ghting over scraps

on the bird table, the cautious

blue tit darting from a nearby

tree to snap up a tasty treat

and the collared doves

awkwardly landing with

a heavy thump,

scattering the smaller birds

away. Learning about these

quirky behaviours can bring

much joy.

Put up feeders: Not only

will that make birds stay for

longer but if you feed them

regularly, they’ll learn that

your garden is a great place

to keep coming to.

Obviously, different species

have differing needs. There

are the insect eaters like

dunnocks, wrens, robins

and starlings. Then there

are birds that specialise

in seeds, like fi nches and

sparrows while thrushes

and blackbirds favour fruit

and berries.

Many birds switch their

diets when the seasons

change: tits that will have fed

on insects throughout the

summer will now be looking

for seeds and nuts. Because

different feeders and food

attract a variety of birds, feel

free to experiment and see

who comes to visit.

Seed mixes are probably the

most popular bird food – a

healthy and nutritious mix

will have plenty of sunfl ower

Whether you’re watching small birds fighting over a feeder in your

garden, or birds of prey soaring hundreds of feet above your head, it’s

easy to see why birdwatching is such a popular hobby

Kingfisher

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