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Environmentalist Kerry Leonard writes the next in
his series of exclusive wildlife reports for Breathing Places.
Nesting Birds
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Although it may seem we are still in the grips of winter
(and the snow in my garden would support this), spring
is just around the corner. Already in late February Magpies
and Jackdaws are nest building, Collared Doves and Woodpigeons
are displaying and Chaffinches are singing. Like all creatures
on the planet birds have only one aim – to create
more of themselves! Many smaller bird species, if they
have survived their first year, will only get one chance
to breed. Up to 80% of young birds born will never get
that chance and only the strongest and fittest survive.
These high rates of mortality result in natural population
cycles where a bad breeding season can keep the population
low for the next year.
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If you want to help the nesting birds in your area this
spring here are a few tips:
It is still not too late to put up a nest box. There
are many models commercially available or just build
your own. Remember to use bird friendly varnish or preservative.
Keep the box away from feeding areas as birds may spend
their time chasing off others of their species attracted
to the food that are perceived as a territorial threat.
Make sure the box faces east so it does not get too much
direct sunlight and heat up, and place it at least two
metres off the ground. Remember that it may take a year
or two for boxes to be occupied – tits will often
check out new sites but not nests in them immediately.
Leave
out pieces of straw, feather or hamster bedding on the
bird table. House Sparrows and Starlings in particular
will collect and use this material. House Sparrows love
to collect the feathery heads of the non-native Pampas
Grass.
Don’t stop feeding the birds in your garden.
Late winter and early spring are critical times for birds
when they are in greatest need of our help. This winter
has been even harsher than usual. Continue feeding lightly
through the summer if birds still visit your garden.
To find out more about nest boxes visit the National Nest
Box Week website (details below). If you have a nest box
that has a lid you can also contribute to bird conservation
by getting involved in the Nest Record Scheme. You can
simply inspect the nest a couple of times after laying
has been completed to check on the number of eggs, then
chicks and finally record the number of birds which fledge.
This information is very important as together with other
surveys of breeding birds, and bird ringing, it helps to
build up a picture of how our bird populations are faring
at different parts of their life cycle and what the factors
are which are driving population increases or decreases.
BTO Nest Record Scheme
National Nest Box Week
Collared Dove Ìý
Jackdaw
Chaffinch
Radio 4 - Brett Westwoods' guide to birdsong
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