The Joy of Birds: The benefits of counting or rating birds for joy
This article in Finding Nature (January 25, 2023) explores the positive impact of changing a nature experience into a more emotional experience. Research findings suggest that activating a sense of joy while bird watching heightens the benefits further. Check out the list of bird species were shown, in this study, to [...]
The ‘Goose’ that Calls the Rain
In this post in Scotland’s Nature (27 May 2022) shares the story of the names for the Red-throated diver. In Gaelic tradition, the red-throated diver not only predicts rain but actually ‘calls it in’.
How do you count gull nests – with a bag of flour of course!
This post by Forvie National Nature Reserve (15 May 2022) shares the story of how the annual census of Forvie’s Black-headed Gull colony is carried out. Check out ' 25 kilograms of flour and 6,000 eggs'. It also shares a lot of numbers! This provides a great opportunity to introduce [...]
Join RSPB’s Big Schools Birdwatch with Wild Challenge; 5 January – 21 February.
Help your pupils participate in RSPB’s Big Schools Birdwatch, contributing to a countrywide data collection. Prepare in advance a safe and sheltered bird feeding station in view of the classroom, and spend an hour recording birds with free resources from the website. This activity also earns you awards with RSPB’s [...]
February 14th is not just about love…
Muddy Faces remind us that it’s National Nest Box Week! Find this and other special forthcoming events listed here.
How Britain’s favourite festive birds got their names
This article in The Conversation (23 December 2021) describes the names of the birds through their historical English speaking origins. This includes the robin, nuthatch, blue tit, blackbird, and turtle dove.
One in four UK bird species now endangered
This article in the Conversation (1 December 2021) highlights the gloomy news that house martin, swift and greenfinch have joined the red list of the UK’s most endangered birds. The data on the UK’s breeding and wintering birds reflects the work led by thousands of citizen scientists, environmental charities and [...]
Scotland’s birds – Gaelic myths and omens
Scotland’s Nature (23 November 2021) article ‘Birds of Premonition’, explores how the Gaels traditionally viewed bird behaviour as predictors of future events.
