Birdwatch UK October 2017

http://www.birdguides.com/birdwatch Birdwatch•October 2017 49

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WELLBEING

friend, or you may just spark their own

interest in the local avifauna. Birding

with others or on your own is a personal

preference; I prefer a mixture of both to

maximise my birding experiences. It can

be nice to share knowledge and sightings

with others – and remember, the more

eyes and ears there are, then the more

birds you may observe!

Finding a local patch can be the

perfect way to connect with birds and

with nature in general. Researching

and exploring nearby sites is a great

way to get to know your local area,

as well as learn about habitats and

wildlife corridors. I have found that the

consistency and security of visiting a

regular patch has helped me to connect

with myself. My patch has been my go-

to location at times of stress; it anchors

me to the present and provides me with

the ultimate escape route.

Taking notice

I recommend spending some time

getting to know the birds in your garden

or any nearby outdoor space. I like to

call this my ‘bird community’. Notice

how the birds behave and interact, and

you will learn more about their lives.

Pay attention to how being outside and

engaging with wildlife makes you feel,

harnessing any positive experiences and

trying to recognise what makes them

so. I personally fi nd sparse, open places

where I must really concentrate on birds

to observe them incredibly uplifting.

Take time

to consider the

intricacies of a

bird’s feather patterns

and markings. Some

of the most beautifully

underrated species are

around us daily, with

Dunnock being a personal

favourite of mine – the

species is subtly stunning

when viewed up close.

Even though we call it

‘birdwatching’, embrace

it as a multi-sensory

experience. Observe not

just the sights and the

sounds of birds, but also

think about the way that

you feel. There are also

external sensations to

consider like cold, fresh

air against your face;

add to this, for example, the smell

of the earth after a brief April shower

and the multi-sensory experience is

complete. Well, you could throw in a

slice of cake available from most visitor

centres to add some taste, too!

Giving

Without a doubt, the best way of giving

something back is to provide food and

water for your bird community. The

RSPB, Wildlife Trusts and British Trust

for Ornithology (BTO) all provide

guidance on how to get the most out of

add to this, for example, the smell

of the earth after a brief April shower

Main photo: watching swans and ducks at Welney WWT, Cambridgeshire, is a multi-sensory experience that can promote wellbeing.

Below: give something back to birding by sharing your knowledge with the younger generation, like this RSPB volunteer.

Bottom: paying close attention to species such as Dunnock can reveal their subtle beauty.

ROBIN CHITTENDEN (WWW.ROBINCHITTENDEN.CO.UK)

ELEANOR BENTALL (WWW.RSPB-IMAGES.COM)

feeding your garden birds.

Sharing your wisdom can be

inspirational, especially when the

younger generation are involved.

Allowing someone to look through your

scope or binoculars at a distant bird is

like opening up a new world. Equally,

keeping and submitting your records is

a fantastic way to give something back

to birding. They can help to map local

and national bird data trends, as well as

potentially encourage others to monitor

and visit di erent areas.

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