How the birds in our gardens can help us
In the extraordinary situation we all now find ourselves in, because of the Coronavirus crisis, those of us with a garden will probably never be more thankful for it. Even if it’s cold and wet outside, we can still enjoy the view from a window and the ever-changing activity from our garden birds.
It’s long been recognised that enjoying nature is good for mental health, with this benefit now taking on a whole new dimension with so many of us largely confined to our homes for the foreseeable future. Of course for some people there will still be the opportunity to get out into the countryside for a walk, but for others this may not be possible – and indeed we’ve all been advised not to travel to popular outdoor areas. Our gardens are therefore our own little piece of nature, and along with probably rather more time on our hands to get outside and do all those jobs we’ve been putting off for ages, we can simply enjoy the garden we have and regardless of size. What’s more and thankfully, at least the crisis has taken hold as we come into spring and therefore there’s so much more to enjoy with trees coming into leaf, with birds singing and busily building nests as the breeding season is now well underway.
Birds are a great way to keep children occupied and learning
A particular challenge in the months ahead for parents with school-age children, is keeping them occupied, entertained and still learning given they won’t now have the daily routine of school. Video games may well be their preferred option, but hopefully with a little encouragement they can also take a new interest in the birds and other wildlife in their garden – which is perhaps a place they’ve rarely ventured into!
If this is a new interest to your children, then the obvious start point is getting them to identify the different species which come to feed or are building nests. Feeders positioned not too far from a window will obviously help, and they can then access our bird library online to identify each species, learn something about them, and then perhaps compile a list. They could also use the camera on their mobile phone to take still shots or short videos, or if they want to watch and learn from the privacy of their own room, then how about this feeder cam which they can link to their PC, laptop or tablet. (This product also comes with a nest box, and although it’s a bit late in the season to put this up now, you’ll obviously have it ready to put up later in the year.)
We’ve everything you need – products, information and some great reading too
Once we’re into April and with the first of the season’s nestlings being fed, then buying a supply of live mealworms will add an exciting new dimension to watching and learning. If you haven’t fed live mealworms before to the birds in your garden, then everything you need to know is right here.
Along with a huge range of bird foods, feeders and other wildlife products which we have in stock and ready to be delivered to your home, our website is also a rich source of information and has some great blogs which go back a decade and more.
We’ve all got to face some difficult months ahead, but our gardens and the birds and other wildlife we attract to them are unquestionably a way to help us get through it and keep spirits up.