Bird Facts
As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, many birds begin to migrate south for the winter. But where exactly do they go? There are a few different patterns of migration that birds follow. Some birds, like geese and ducks, migrate in large flocks to specific locations where they will spend the winter. Other birds, like warblers and sparrows, travel solo or in …
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The UK is home to some 574 species of birds. They are attracted to our diverse habitats and are a spectacle to behold all year round. If you’re a beginner at bird watching, you might not know where to start. If this is the case, or you’re just interested in finding a new spot to admire birds, we’ve put together a list of the top …
Continue readingSparrowhawks: Everything You Need To Know
The sparrowhawk is a truly beautiful bird, and many gardeners would delight at the sight of their mottled wings flapping around their gardens. However, as intriguing as they can be, sparrowhawks are one of Britain’s most common birds of prey, and this can spell trouble for other animals and smaller birds that you have grown accustomed to seeing in your garden. Knowing what a sparrowhawk …
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Birds can fly at impressive speeds – but some are much faster than others. The Garden Wildlife Direct team have explored which birds are the fastest in the world. Fastest Birds The fastest birds in the world are: Peregrine Falcon – 247mph Golden Eagle – 200mph Saker Falcon – 199mph Both the Golden Eagle and the Peregrine Falcon are faster than the world’s fastest rollercoaster …
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Feeding and caring for garden birds is vital for conserving species and helping our environment thrive all year round. However, one species that most gardeners could happily do without is pigeons. Considered a pest species, pigeons are potentially damaging birds that can cause serious trouble in a garden. It’s only natural to want to deter them. However, sometimes, in an effort to rid your garden …
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Feeding ducks and other waterfowl is a great activity for all the family. It allows children to get closer to nature and nurture a lifelong love of animals, and adults to sit back and enjoy the relaxing activity. However, what to feed ducks has caused some controversy over recent years. With ducks in Leicester dying after being fed rotten bread[i] and so many conflicting opinions …
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The Nation’s Favourite During the 1960s Britain adopted the robin as its favourite bird, although it was never officially confirmed. In 2015 there was another survey to find Britain’s favourite national bird, with the robin once again taking 1st place. This incentivised organisers to request the government officially recognise the robin as Britain’s national bird.
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Scientific name: Streptopelia turtur Family: Pigeons and doves (Columbidae) Wingspan: 49 – 55cm (19 1/2 – 22″) Diet: Seeds form a large part of the turtle dove’s diet Feed with: turtle dove love to feed on seed. We recommend niger seed. Habitat: Can be located in hedgerows, woodland and scattered bushes. The turtle dove’s habitat is mainly southern England. Lifespan: 2 Years THE TURTLES DOVE …
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Scientific name: Streptopelia decaocto Family: pigeons and doves (Columbidae) Wingspan: 47 – 55cm (19 – 22″) Diet: Mainly seeds and grain Feed with: Small bird seed, increasingly more from handing feeders with trays. They will also feed on bread crumbs from bird tables. Habitat: Collared doves are common visitors to the British garden. They can also be spotted around town and village centres. Lifespan: 3 …
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Scientific name: Delichon urbica Family: swallows, martins, swifts and nightjars Wingspan: 25 – 29cm (10 – 12″) Diet: Mainly (flying) insects Habitat: House Martins are widespread and can be seen in the UK between April and September. They traditional enjoy feeding around wetlands, but can be found nesting under the eaves of houses and in and around towns and villages. Lifespan: 2 Years THE HOUSE …
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