Our Songbirds is a beautifully illustrated guide to England’s songbirds, by pop artist Matt Sewell. This enchanting volume has lovely art and accompanying descriptions like the peewit (‘sings the blues’) and the bittern who fills his neck ‘like a tweed pair of bellows’.
Don’t encourage birds if you live with cats (keep them inside at dawn and dusk, when birds are likely feeding). Avoid tin or coloured birdhouses (these can overheat and attract predators. Don’t play birdsong near birds (makes them vulnerable to predators). Learn how to create safe havens for garden birds and how to stop birds flying into windows.
If there’s one type of bird I have a strong affinity with, it’s the singy songy fellow. They kind of wake up the world with their vocals. It’s a little know fact, but that’s not them getting up you know. It’s them not having been to bed, yet. Often they’ve had a drink too. They’re feathery show-offs.
Dawn Chorus is not a music television presenter, though I did once have a music teacher called Mrs Melody. Scientists can’t explain the Dawn Chorus as it doesn’t seem to serve much purpose. I doubt they ever will either, as they can’t logically explain that the birds are full of the joys of spring. And so glad to be alive that they sing their songs to the rising sun.
about the author
Matt Sewell is a talented watercolour artist and ornithologist who writes some of England’s best-selling books about birds and other creatures. His designs are even on postage stamps on the Isle of Man.
