Save Our Birds (a book by artist Matt Sewell)
Save Our Birds is a wonderful book by artist and ornithologist Matt Sewell, making it as fun and interesting, as it is important to save our garden birds.
Wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin recently said that his dream would be if children could name five trees, instead of five Kardashians! This is the same kind of thing. Do you know the names of five species of birds that visit your garden or park? If not, why not?
Imagine a garden entirely without birds. Imagine a whole street empty of them; a town with no spring nests or morning birdsong; no swifts or swallows overhead on hot days. Actually, don’t. It’s far too horrible.
Our once insect-rich summers are now a thing of the past, due to pesticides and intensive farming practices. All of our outdoor spaces are owned, managed and pumped full of chemicals to yield as much from the earth as possible. Matt Sewell
Tips to Help Our Garden Birds
- Keep cats indoors at dawn and dusk, and avoid wooden tables.
- Avoid feeding stale/crusty/mouldy bread to birds (nor salt or buttered bread, as fat can affect insulation/waterproofing of feathers).
- Choose RSPB-endorsed plain wooden ones (sited between north and east to protect from sun and rain. Avoid coloured or tin ones, as these can attract predators and overheat.
- Keep bird baths clean with boiled water, rinse and fill again (or use a shallow non-glazed dish with flat stones so bees and butterflies can drink safely).
- Read more on safe havens for garden birds (includes tips on how to site feeders and nest boxes safely). Natural food like shrubs with berries are best.
- Read how to stop birds flying into windows (turn off lights when not in use, avoid facing indoor foliage to give views from outside, and site feeders less than 1.5 feet (or more than 10 feet) away from windows, to avoid them ‘building up momentum’ to strike windows.
