Cold weather driving unusual birds into UK gardens
16th January 2009
January 2009. The cold weather is bringing a wide range of unusual birds to UK gardens, according to the RSPB. The charity has received many calls during the cold snap from people reporting sightings of species that are not usually seen in UK gardens.
Waxwings, reed buntings, yellowhammers, redpolls, grey wagtails, redwings and fieldfares are just some of the unusual garden visitors that would be expected to forage in the wider countryside. But they are being seen in domestic gardens as the frozen conditions make it almost impossible to find natural food sources.
Finches like bramblings and siskins are also being seen earlier than normal; they don't usually appearing in gardens until March. Natural food shortages in some parts of the UK due to the weather mean that more species are looking for berries and seeds in gardens.
The increased popularity of bird feeding has also had a huge impact on the number of birds seen in gardens with more species relying on supplementary food at this time of year. More people are making an effort to create wildlife friendly gardens too, with ponds and fruit trees also creating more insects and food for garden birds.
Val Osborne, Head of the RSPB's Wildlife Enquiries team says: "Although our climate is warming, we can still experience freezing conditions. We always get lots of calls from people reporting an abundance of birds in their gardens as they come in search of food at this time of year.
"But this year there has been a noticeable change in the species people are seeing in gardens. We would expect lots of garden favourites like robins and blackbirds and there are still plenty of those around but to see things like grey wagtails and bullfinches is more unusual. It just goes to show that feeding our garden birds can really help them at this time of year and you never know what you're going to see!"
Big Garden Birdwatch
The range of species bodes well for participants in the RSPB's annual Big Garden Birdwatch at the end of the month. Around half a million people report what birds they have seen over the last weekend in January, providing the charity with vital information on which species are thriving and which need some attention.
Sarah Kelly, Big Garden Birdwatch Coordinator, says: "A huge range of different birds are being seen in January and it just shows what benefits putting food and water out can bring. More and more people enjoy their garden birds and you could find yourself as familiar with bullfinches and siskins as robins and blue tits!"
January is a particularly harsh month for wildlife and garden birds face a constant battle to find food. Food and water that we put out in our gardens can be the difference between life and death for many species. For more information on feeding the birds in your garden please visit. www.rspb.org.uk/advice
Waxwings, reed buntings, yellowhammers, redpolls, grey wagtails, redwings and fieldfares are just some of the unusual garden visitors that would be expected to forage in the wider countryside. But they are being seen in domestic gardens as the frozen conditions make it almost impossible to find natural food sources.
Finches like bramblings and siskins are also being seen earlier than normal; they don't usually appearing in gardens until March. Natural food shortages in some parts of the UK due to the weather mean that more species are looking for berries and seeds in gardens.
The increased popularity of bird feeding has also had a huge impact on the number of birds seen in gardens with more species relying on supplementary food at this time of year. More people are making an effort to create wildlife friendly gardens too, with ponds and fruit trees also creating more insects and food for garden birds.
Val Osborne, Head of the RSPB's Wildlife Enquiries team says: "Although our climate is warming, we can still experience freezing conditions. We always get lots of calls from people reporting an abundance of birds in their gardens as they come in search of food at this time of year.
"But this year there has been a noticeable change in the species people are seeing in gardens. We would expect lots of garden favourites like robins and blackbirds and there are still plenty of those around but to see things like grey wagtails and bullfinches is more unusual. It just goes to show that feeding our garden birds can really help them at this time of year and you never know what you're going to see!"
Big Garden Birdwatch
The range of species bodes well for participants in the RSPB's annual Big Garden Birdwatch at the end of the month. Around half a million people report what birds they have seen over the last weekend in January, providing the charity with vital information on which species are thriving and which need some attention.
Sarah Kelly, Big Garden Birdwatch Coordinator, says: "A huge range of different birds are being seen in January and it just shows what benefits putting food and water out can bring. More and more people enjoy their garden birds and you could find yourself as familiar with bullfinches and siskins as robins and blue tits!"
January is a particularly harsh month for wildlife and garden birds face a constant battle to find food. Food and water that we put out in our gardens can be the difference between life and death for many species. For more information on feeding the birds in your garden please visit. www.rspb.org.uk/advice
