Count the wildlife that s counting on you. Your guide to the wildlife in your garden

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1 Count the wildlife that s counting on you Your guide to the wildlife in your garden

All you ever wanted to know about taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch It s time for the Big Garden Birdwatch, and this booklet is all about enjoying it to the full.

2 All you ever wanted to know about taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch It s time for the Big Garden Birdwatch, and this booklet is all about enjoying it to the full. Discover more about the wonderful world of birds and other widlife just beyond your back doorstep, while doing your bit to help some of our best-loved garden visitors. You can take part in the 2014 Big Garden Birdwatch live using your laptop, tablet or even your phone! Q: Alright, I ve got my form, my comfy chair (or warm coat!) and my pen. Now what? A: Watch the birds in your garden or local park for an hour, whenever you like during the Birdwatch weekend. Record the highest number of species you see at any one time, rather than totalling them up over the hour, as you may record the same bird twice. Q: What if I don t see any birds? A: Don t worry, we still want your results. All information we receive is incredibly helpful, as surveys are as much about what s missing as what s spotted and you could see other wildlife in your garden. Q: What do you do with my results? A: We create a snapshot of the garden bird numbers in each region, and, with previous years results, they paint a bigger picture of what s happening to our UK garden bird populations. It makes it easier to spot species that are in trouble, so we can begin to help their recovery. Q: What if it s raining or even snowing? A: The good old British weather has thrown all kinds of different conditions at us during the many years of the Birdwatch. Up and down the country, over time, the results even out to show us what we need to know. Q: So, do I have to be a member to do this? A: No! Joining in the Big Garden Birdwatch is free to anyone who wants to participate. But, you never know, you might get hooked, in which case go directly to rspb.org.uk/join or fill out the accompanying form. Q: Can my children do this at school with their friends? A: Absolutely! Visit rspb.org.uk/ schoolswatch for details. Keeping garden birds fed and happy Different garden birds like different kinds of foods, from shop-bought fat balls to things you ve got at home. It takes a bit of care to feed birds the right things, but the rewards are great flocks of colourful birds in your own back garden. Fat balls Great for the winter when birds need rich, fatty food to help fight the cold. Always ensure that you remove the mesh that these are often sold in. Birds can easily become tangled up in it, with fatal consequences for them. Black sunflower seeds These can be fed to birds all year, and are a particular favourite of tits and greenfinches. Black sunflower seeds have a higher oil content than the striped ones (which is great for birds) and buying sunflower kernels, or hearts, means you don t even have to sweep up after your garden birds have been feasting. Nyjer seed A fine, black seed with a high oil content. You ll need a special feeder to dispense this food, but siskins and goldfinches will love you for it. Peanuts Don t use salted or flavoured peanuts as they can be very bad for birds. Be careful where you buy peanuts from as some can have high levels of a toxin in them which is poisonous to birds. The ones sold in our shops and on our website are safe. By putting peanuts out, you ll be sure to attract a wide range of birds to your garden, including nuthatches, tits, greenfinches, siskins, and even great spotted woodpeckers. Food from your cupboard There are lots of things you might have lying around that you could feed the birds: bread (moistened)* cake mild grated cheese cooked potato currants fruit pastry porridge oats (dry) raisins suet sultanas *Feed bread to birds in moderation, as it doesn t contain all the necessary protein, and it has low nutritional value. Remember to keep your bird feeders clean, to prevent the spread of disease. David Tipling The RSPB sells a range of feeding products, available from our shops, mail order catalogue and online at rspbshop.co.uk

3 Homes for birds You can turn your garden into a five-star hotel for birds by adding just a few desirable features. Natural food Planting the following will add colour and scent to your garden, and supply an amazing buffet for birds and other wildlife, plus places to nest. The easy way to start making your garden bird-friendly is by putting up a nestbox. Nestboxes appeal to many birds. They can be fixed to walls, fences or trees, but they should be in a sheltered, quiet place and out of direct sunlight. They should be positioned somewhere where they cannot be easily disturbed, and out of reach of predators like cats. Nestboxes come in lots of shapes and sizes. Mix and match the types you have in your garden to attract a greater variety of birds. It is best to put up nestboxes in the autumn, to increase the chances of them being occupied in the first year. Remember to clean nestboxes out in autumn, after the inhabitants have left, so the birds that use it next can start with a clean home. Chris O Reilly Mike Read Chris Knights Apple or crab apple: you don t need lots of space dwarf varieties of apples such as Cox s are available from garden centres. If you don t eat the apples, the birds certainly will! Honeysuckle: bees and butterflies love this native plant. It also provides berries that birds love, and can prove a great place for nesting and roosting. Ivy: doubles as food and a place to nest. The thick, clinging stems offer shelter to dunnocks, chaffinches and blackbirds, and the berries are a nutritious snack for lots of creatures. The leaves provide shelter from the rain and cold for small mammals and birds. Andy Hay Sue Kennedy David Osborn Lavender: a delightful-smelling herb that can benefit you as much as it does wildlife. Bees in particular will be attracted to lavender, and you can use it to scent your home or in cooking. Rowan: these trees are traditionally planted near houses to keep witches away! While you are busy enjoying your witch-free surroundings, your garden birds can feast on the beautiful red berries the rowan produces every autumn and winter. Sunflower: the king of all garden flowers! Have a sunflower-growing race with family or friends, and then leave the seed heads to be scoffed by visiting birds. Andy Hay Sue Kennedy Teasel: seeds from this plant are much loved by goldfinches. You only see leaves in its first year, as it is a biennial plant. Grey willow: a quick-growing tree that is rich in insect life up to 250 species! They are also a great source of nectar for bees in spring. Be sure to plant well away from your house because the roots can damage foundations. Eleanor Bentall A variety of nestboxes are available to buy from the RSPB or, if you are feeling adventurous, you could build one yourself! paleka19/istockphoto Finches are particularly attracted to sunflowers, as they feed on the seeds. Genevieve Leaper Peacock butterflies need to feed on the nectar from flowers, while their caterpillars need a patch of stinging nettles. Chris Pearce/Fotolia Bees will come to feed in foxglove flowers every two years, and in return will pollinate them.

4 Gardening for wildlife The best thing about making your garden great for wildlife is that it makes it great for you, too. Plenty of variety, with shrubs, berries and wild flowers make for a colourful, tasty and exciting experience that you and your garden visitors will love. Berry good These shrubs and trees all grow fruit and berries that are eaten by a variety of birds and other wildlife: alder buckthorn buckthorn cherry climbing rose elder hawthorn hedge barberry holly Japanese quince spindle white dogwood wild privet yew Natural shelter Trees, hedges and shrubs all give height, depth and colour to a garden and places for birds to build nests, and to roost, shelter and feed. With many new buildings lacking the nooks and crannies suitable for nesting house sparrows and swifts, and the modern country landscape having fewer trees and hedgerows, anything you can do to provide alternatives in your garden will help. Heaps of potential Compost heaps are a brilliant way to recycle the nutrients in your garden. You can add leaves and plant material from the garden, as well as teabags, and fruit and vegetable peelings from the kitchen. Small animals and fungi inside the compost heap will feed on the vegetable matter, speeding up the recycling process. Wild flowers not weeds! Look again at the plants that you usually pull up as weeds. Many are beautiful wild flowers and important food plants for butterflies and other insects. Nectar-rich flowers will attract bees in summer, thistle seeds are a favourite food of the colourful goldfinch, and a clump of rosebay willowherb left alongside a hedge will provide food and shelter for all sorts of insects. See the good in nettles Nettles are an essential food for some butterfly caterpillars such as red admirals, peacocks and small tortoiseshells. If you can, leave a clump of nettles to grow somewhere (where you won t get stung!) in your garden. Pick an otherwise unproductive, sunny spot along a hedge or behind a garden shed is ideal. Cut them back regularly to encourage fresh growth and to prevent them from spreading too much. Trees Oak trees are rich in insect life. Huge quantities of insects, from around 300 different species, have been found sheltering amongst oak branches and leaves. Willows, silver birches, poplars, rowans, alders, field maples, hazels and hawthorns also sustain lots of life. Space allowing, why not plant a tree in your garden? Willows and birches grow quickly, and some of the weeping varieties such as Betula youngii are suitable for small gardens, as are rowans. Super shrubs If you plant one shrub in your garden, make it a hawthorn. It s fantastic for wildlife, and it can be planted in virtually every type of soil in the UK. A food plant for more than 150 insect species, including earwigs, cockchafers and bumblebees, it also feeds blackbirds, redwings, fieldfares, greenfinches, yellowhammers, chaffinches and starlings who feast on its autumn berries. The thorny cover provides great protection for nesting birds, including finches, dunnocks and robins. Wood mice and slow worms use it for shelter, too. Turn the page to see the wildlife you could find in your garden. Sue Kennedy

Birds that like to feed on the ground Male Female Blackbird Only the male is black to

They will gobble up fruit put out for them, or growing on trees or bushes.

They will eat most things, including scraps such as cold boiled potatoes or rice, both

Collared dove So-called because of its thin, black collar, the collared dove likes grains

Feral pigeon Seen practically everywhere, not everyone wants to see the feral pigeon in

They favour grains, so avoid seed mixes that contain them if you don t want to encourage

Jackdaw From the same family as the crow, but with more of a grey tinge and a shorter

If you want to encourage them, grow bushes that produce berries, and put out mealworms.

Favourite foods include fruit, insects, snails and earthworms.

5 Birds that like to feed on the ground Male Female Blackbird Only the male is black to spot a female, watch out for a brown, slightly streaky bird. They will gobble up fruit put out for them, or growing on trees or bushes. Carrion crow A big, black bird with a slightly curved, black beak. They will eat most things, including scraps such as cold boiled potatoes or rice, both cooked without salt. Collared dove So-called because of its thin, black collar, the collared dove likes grains such as barley and wheat, found in many bird food mixes. Feral pigeon Seen practically everywhere, not everyone wants to see the feral pigeon in their garden as they can crowd out smaller species. They favour grains, so avoid seed mixes that contain them if you don t want to encourage this bird. Jackdaw From the same family as the crow, but with more of a grey tinge and a shorter beak, the jackdaw, like its cousin, will eat all kinds of food. If you want to encourage them, grow bushes that produce berries, and put out mealworms. Song thrush The song thrush is an asset to any garden, with its beautiful, musical call. Favourite foods include fruit, insects, snails and earthworms. Magpie Don t be fooled into thinking of the magpie in boring monochrome get up close and you ll see its feathers are iridescent green and purple. A scavenger, it will eat scraps, insects and berries. Starling These energetic, chattering birds, famous for breathtaking murmurations in which thousands fly together in complex formations, love scraps, berries and insects. They pick leatherjackets out of lawns, making them a gardener s friend.

Birds that like to feed on the ground Birds that will feed on bird tables or

is one of the joys of a summer day. They enjoy grain.

ground, in and out of the bushes, looking for food.

Chaffinch The male is an extravagant blue, pink and brown, while the female is

Robin Robins are incredibly bold, as anyone who has done a bit of gardening

Wrens like insects, so will be attracted by mealworms.

peanuts, fat balls and sunflower seeds, and caterpillars in spring.

tit, this bird can often be seen flying off with sunflower seeds to store.

seen at bird tables up and down the country.

6 Birds that like to feed on the ground Birds that will feed on bird tables or hanging feeders Female Male Woodpigeon The soft, dozy call of the woodpigeon is one of the joys of a summer day. They enjoy grain. Dunnock A small, shy little bird that you may notice as it creeps along the ground, in and out of the bushes, looking for food. Put out small seeds such as linseed and millet to attract them. Chaffinch The male is an extravagant blue, pink and brown, while the female is less colourful. They both like to eat hemp seed, linseed and millet. Robin Robins are incredibly bold, as anyone who has done a bit of gardening can tell you they will fly right up close to see if you ve dug up any worms. They also eat fruit and mealworms. Wren A tiny bird, rounded and rusty brown, but with a very loud song. Wrens like insects, so will be attracted by mealworms. Blue tit Exotically colourful and a real garden favourite, the blue tit eats peanuts, fat balls and sunflower seeds, and caterpillars in spring. Coal tit Small, and less colourful than its blue-and-yellow cousin the blue tit, this bird can often be seen flying off with sunflower seeds to store. Great tit This is the largest tit, and a common garden visitor, often to be seen at bird tables up and down the country. Another one you will attract with peanuts, fat balls and hemp seed. Long-tailed tit A fluffy little ball of pink, black and white feathers with a long tail protruding, the long-tailed tit loves to hang from feeders full of fat balls or bird cake. If you see one, you ll probably see several.

love you for it, and reward you by visiting and brightening up

Nyjer seed will also encourage this colourful visitor.

so fill them up with sunflower seeds and peanuts to entice the

7 Birds that will feed on bird tables or hanging feeders Female Male House sparrow This chirpy little character likes sunflower hearts, peanuts and fine seeds such as millet. Goldfinch If you grow thistles and teasels, the goldfinch will love you for it, and reward you by visiting and brightening up your garden with its beautiful plumage. Nyjer seed will also encourage this colourful visitor. Greenfinch Hanging feeders are what this bird likes to feed from, so fill them up with sunflower seeds and peanuts to entice the greenfinch to your garden. Together we can give nature a home Follow our steps to give nature a home in your garden Tony Hamblin (rspb-images.com)

Other species you may see in your garden Badger Found all over the UK,

widespread. They eat acorns, bulbs, tree shoots, fungi, roots and nuts.

They feed on snails, slugs and worms and hibernate between November and

Common in southern England, they are found in woodland, parkland, and

Red squirrel Once seen across the UK, they are now mostly found in

8 Other species you may see in your garden Badger Found all over the UK, these nocturnal animals emerge at dusk to forage for earthworms, frogs, lizards, nuts and berries. Common frog Common frogs come to ponds to breed and feed on a range of insects. They are widespread except for some islands and hibernate between October and January. Grey squirrel Originally from North America, grey squirrels are now widespread. They eat acorns, bulbs, tree shoots, fungi, roots and nuts. Hedgehog Hedgehogs are found all over the UK except some Scottish islands. They feed on snails, slugs and worms and hibernate between November and mid-march. Muntjac deer These small deer are originally from China. Common in southern England, they are found in woodland, parkland, and rural gardens. Red squirrel Once seen across the UK, they are now mostly found in Scotland, Northumberland and the Lake District. They are often seen in or around coniferous woodland. Roe deer Our most common native deer is found in Scotland and northern England. Common toad Hibernating between October and March, common toads come to ponds to breed and spend much of the rest of the year on dry land, including gardens.

House sparrows have dropped in number by two-thirds in the UK since the 1970s. They were once one of Britain s commonest birds, found from city centres to rural farmland.

By taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch this year, you re giving us vital data to create a snapshot of the most threatened birds and other wildlife in the UK.

9 House sparrows have dropped in number by two-thirds in the UK since the 1970s. They were once one of Britain s commonest birds, found from city centres to rural farmland. Although pockets of them are still thriving in Wales, these noisy, gregarious birds are now on the Red List of threatened species. You re helping us find out why. By taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch this year, you re giving us vital data to create a snapshot of the most threatened birds and other wildlife in the UK. But it s not just the sparrows Many of our most familiar and best-loved species can t find a welcome home in the UK anymore. The recent State of Nature report showed that of the 6,000 British species assessed, a shocking one in ten are threatened with extinction in the UK. Almost half our hedgehogs have disappeared in the last 25 years, and over the last 50 years, we ve lost 44 million birds. Mike Edwards 60% of the species assessed in the UK have declined David Norton This is all deeply worrying. But if we all work together now, it s not too late. Let s all give nature a home. rspb.org.uk/homes State of Nature report, 2013

Take your pick of our exciting winter wildlife activities Enjoy spooky Halloween events on an RSPB reserve near you.

Norfolk, Sussex. Kick through the The Lodge, Bedfordshire, leaves, help build a den Saltholme, Teesside, and go on a woodland and Lochwinnoch, treasure hunt. Renfrewshire.

hands-on our special seasonal events experience by making at Baron s Haugh, North some fat ball feeders. Lanarkshire, and 8 Marvellous migration Lochwinnoch, at Rainham Marshes Renfrewshire.

10 Take your pick of our exciting winter wildlife activities Enjoy spooky Halloween events on an RSPB reserve near you. 1 Frightfully good fun 6 Go wild at Celebrate Halloween with Pulborough Brooks creepy crafts, torch lit trails Grab the kids and go wild and spooky sightings at in the woods in West Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk, Sussex. Kick through the The Lodge, Bedfordshire, leaves, help build a den Saltholme, Teesside, and go on a woodland and Lochwinnoch, treasure hunt. Renfrewshire. 7 Help winter wildlife 2 Winter wonderland at Lakenheath Fen Wrap up warm and Learn how to give nature a celebrate all the wonderful home in your garden this things about winter with winter, and get hands-on our special seasonal events experience by making at Baron s Haugh, North some fat ball feeders. Lanarkshire, and 8 Marvellous migration Lochwinnoch, at Rainham Marshes Renfrewshire. Enjoy the magic of 3 Race for wildlife migration on the edge of Ditch the gym and take London. October sees a run (or walk) on the wild Rainham transformed into side at Lakenheath Fen, the avian hub of the Suffolk. With courses of Thames Estuary. two, five and 10km, there s 9 Festival fun at Arne something for all levels of Enjoy local food, crafts and fitness. activities in the stunning 4 Cracking Christmas setting of our beautiful celebrations Arne reserve in Dorset. Head to Lakenheath Fen, 10 Get muddy at Conwy Rainham Marshes, London, The Muddy Puddle Club at or Lochwinnoch for festive Conwy is perfect for 3-8 favourites, including mince year olds and their parents pies, mulled wine and even who like to get outdoors, a reindeer or two. explore nature and get muddy in the process. 5 Behind the scenes at Strumpshaw Don your wellies and follow the warden to explore the hidden parts of Strumpshaw Fen, followed by a nice hot cuppa to warm you up. 14 winter 2013 RSPB EVENTS To join in these or hundreds of other exciting RSPB events, go to rspb.org/ events or contact the RSPB office (for details see p5) Eared owls are most numerous in winter, when numbers are boosted by influxes of birds from Europe. Short-eared owls can be seen at any time of day, but are most active at dusk, hunting over marshes, fields and moors. Search for long-eared owls sometimes called LEOs roosting communally in scrub, but be careful not to disturb them. They come out to hunt at dusk, and prefer a mix of woodland and open country. SHORT-EARED OWL Tail has thick bars Streaking stops on belly LONG-EARED OWL Tail is more finely barred Streaking onto thighs FIELDCRAFT SKILLS Fewer, thicker bands on wing White trailing edge No white trailing edge to shorter and broader wings Close views reveal yellow eyes Several narrow bands on wing Close views reveal orange eyes ead to the hills to look for mountain hares on moors and mountains in Scotland. Their winter diet is mainly heather, but includes grasses and other moorland plants. Look for nibbled shoots along trails through the vegetation to reveal their presence. Mountain hares begin moulting into their white winter coats in October to help with camouflage against the snow. Stop and study mounds of snow in case there is a hare crouching beside one, and look carefully for their tell-tale tracks in the snow. Nature s Home Give nature a home with us If there s no home for nature, there will be no nature. Homes are where we eat, where we sleep, and where we bring up our families. It s just the same for birds and wildlife. You can help make a difference for nature where you live, making small changes in your outside space, such as leaving your lawn to grow a bit longer, or filling pots with flowering plants. Keep an eye out for the new wildlife that visits your garden: maybe a curious frog will arrive to check out your new pond, or there will be a fresh flurry of activity around your bird feeder. Visit rspb.org.uk/homes to get simple, fun activities tailored to where you live, and we ll help you discover how to give nature a home on your doorstep. Join us To help us give more nature a home, why not become a member of the RSPB? Your membership will help us work on behalf of birds and other wildlife in the UK. You ll also get a host of other benefits, including: FREE gift There are two to choose from: the Handbook of garden wildlife, or a nestbox to attract more wildlife to your garden. FREE ENTRY to over 140 RSPB reserves We have reserves all over the country, even tucked away in the middle of busy towns! Enjoy a fun day out at one of our reserves, and see the work we are achieving together to give nature a home. Nature s Home magazine, four times a year Your magazine is delivered to your door every season, packed with news, features and spectacular photography. It s also your chance to see what we re working on together. Ben Hall free Nature s Home The Rspb magazine winter 2013 wild out & about 1O GREAT RSPB EVENTS IDENTIFICATION How to tell short- and long-eared owls apart Members pack Everything you could want to begin enjoying your membership, including a comprehensive guide to our reserves. PLUs How plastic threatens the UK s seabirds Meet the rspb s wetland wizard Linda Barker reveals her wildlife gardening tips Winter Wonders 10 wildlife spectacles you must not miss Illustrations by Mike Langman (rspb-images.com), photos by caia images/alamy and Andrew Parkinson (rspb-images.com) MOUNTAIN HARES H Edwin Kats The knowledge that, thanks to you, the UK has just become a greener, more wildlife-friendly place. To begin your RSPB adventure, visit rspb.org.uk today.

Eleanor Bentall Join in the conversation at #birdwatch and follow us at: RSPBLoveNature @natures_voice rspb_love_nature rspb.org.

11 Eleanor Bentall Join in the conversation at #birdwatch and follow us at: rspb_love_nature rspb.org.uk/birdwatch Cover by Andy Hay and Genevieve Leaper, bird illustrations by Mike Langman, all other illustrations by Chris Shields. All rspb-images.com unless otherwise credited. The RSPB is a registered charity in England & Wales , in Scotland SC CR IN01

Big Card Birdwatch. How to play. Which bird wins? Choose your score carefully to beat your rivals.

Big Card Birdwatch. How to play. Which bird wins? Choose your score carefully to beat your rivals. Big Card Birdwatch How to play 1. Shuffle your cards. Deal them out face down to all players. Everyone must have the same number of cards. 2. Each player only looks at their top card. 3. The player to