Surge in interest about wildlife and nature on Yorkshire Coast
There has been a recent surge in interest about wildlife and nature on the Yorkshire Coast according to RSPB Bempton Cliffs.
There has been a recent surge in interest about wildlife and nature on the Yorkshire Coast.
That is from RSPB Bempton Cliffs who say they have received a spike in enquiries about types of birds and how to feed them.
The nature reserve says it is due to more people wanting to exercise outdoors because of lockdown.
Danielle Jackson, Visitor Experience Manager at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, said:
"You can walk a dog and you've got a cat that you can play with but with nature, it's more wild. It's kind of unpredictable and you can feel like you're giving something back when you're feeding the garden birds. It's that little bit of connection that you've got with the outside world.
"Just being out and about can be really good for people's mental health and wellbeing. It's actually a really good way to get kids involved with wildlife with families doing it together. Children tend to love filling up feeders or making bird feeders that they can put out and watching the garden birds.
"Garden habitats are a great way to see some of our declining species; so ones that are doing not so well like starlings, house sparrows and song thrushes are really common in gardens and actually putting food out for them over the winter is a great thing."
Danielle has this advice:
"Normally the best thing is to watch them and see what they're doing, admire the fact that they are wild and that they will do whatever they want to do. Just be mindful and give them a bit of space as well..
"Don't feed the birds turkey fat because that can actually damage their feathers and could be fatal for them; so things like bird seed is fine, they enjoy cheese, raisins and cheerios are great on a piece of string strung up in the garden, if you don't have anything else."
The RSPB also says people can help the birds in their neighbourhood by taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch.
Every year for the past four decades the charity has asked people to look out their window or head to their local park and let them know what birds they see over the course of an hour.
It helps them keep track of how garden birds are faring, and with about half a million people taking part every year it is now the world’s largest garden wildlife survey.
You can take part on the 29, 30, or 31 January 2021. Visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch for more information.