Hamza’s Book on the Joy of Birdwatching
Watching birds is a lovely hobby, to learn about native and migrating feathered friends. And a wonderful way to appreciate nature.
Be a Birder is a treasure! The moment you open this book, you’ll fall in love with the 50 birds featured, each with gorgeous black-and-white illustrations and information on their habitat, behaviour and movements.
Birds featured include:
- Goldfinches
- Tawny Owls
- Kingfishers
- Arctic Terns
- Peregrine Falcons
I absolutely love birds. They make me tick. It’s no exaggeration to say that I wake up and go to sleep, thinking about birds. All of my conversations get redirected back to birds somehow.
When someone asks me what it is I love about birds, my first answer is that they can fly. I still find myself staring at their wings and thinking ‘How can you do that?’
Born in Sudan and raised in Scotland, Hamza Yassin is a Scottish wildlife cameraman and skilled ornithologist. He has appeared on many wildlife TV shows (he also won Strictly Come Dancing!)
- If you live with cats, keep them indoors at dusk and dawn, when garden birds are feeding.
- Don’t feed birds stale, mouldy or crusty bread (nor buttered bread, fat can smear on feathers, affecting weatherproofing and insulation).
- Never use brightly-coloured or tin bird houses (they overheat and attract predators).
- Read more on create safe havens for garden birds, and how to stop birds flying into windows
- Don’t play birdsong near birds, it can confuse and attract predators.
Where to Buy Good Birdwatching Binoculars
It’s important not to disturb birds, when watching them. So a good pair of binoculars is key. Most people can’t afford hundreds of pounds to buy ones. RSPB Puffin Binoculars are designed for children (only cost around £30) and are small and lightweight, so pretty good for most adults too.
Not many people want to lug around heavy binoculars. They are easy to hold still, and offer a wide field of view and sharp image quality. They also include a case and wrist strap, and are sold with a 1-year warranty.
