It can be common at this time of year to see young birds sitting on the ground without any sign of their parents. However, the RSPB is asking bird lovers across the nation to resist the urge to help ‘abandoned’ fledglings, no matter how helpless they look. Each year, the RSPCA’s wildlife centres care for […]
Birds in the Ancient World by Jeremy Mynott Published by Oxford University Press – £16.99 (new to paperback) Jeremy Mynott’s fascinating book explores the many different roles birds played in ancient Greek and Roman civilisations and how they impressed upon the imagination to influence the literature and art of the time. Using quotations from the […]
This Sunday 3rd of May is International Dawn Chorus Day and a wonderful reminder to celebrate the daily treat of a birdsong choir. Starting just before sunrise at around 4.30 am, early birds take full advantage of the still, quiet air to sing and attract a mate – or warn off rivals from their territory! […]
Spring is here and there are signs of it all around us, from birds singing and flowers blooming to longer days and the return of sunshine. A connection to nature has a positive impact on both physical and emotional wellbeing, and to celebrate the arrival of the spring the RSPB has created a list of […]
Spending time in nature and green spaces can relieve stress and anxiety with people reporting to feel much happier and healthier following an activity outdoors. In response to the recent coronavirus outbreak, and for those staying at home, The Wildlife Trusts has issued some simple tips and ideas to keep active while looking after yourself […]
Great Island Adventure Safaris is based in Antananarivo in Madagascar and offers tailor-made tours to explore the island, still relatively unknown to visitors from the UK and Europe. The company specialises in birding, wildlife watching, trekking and ‘off the beaten track’ wilderness adventures. Fifty National Parks and nature reserves provide ample opportunity for nature discovery […]
The RSPCA’s Big Garden Bird Watch takes place this weekend 25th to 27th January 2020 with thousands expected to be out in force for the world’s largest wildlife survey. If you’re looking to record sightings using your smartphone, it’s now possible to capture excellent wildlife photography with just your handset. Modern smartphone cameras are regularly packed with […]
The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is set to return at the end of January with up to half a million people expected to take part this year. Those who sign up are encouraged to spend just one hour watching and recording the birds in their gardens to help the RSPB better understand how our feathered friends […]
The Wildlife Trusts this week published their Marine Review for 2019, revealing both highs and lows for our coastal wildlife. Compiled by the Trusts’ Living Seas teams, together with thousands of volunteers who are the eyes and ears of the UK coast, the report looks back at some memorable moments from the past year. In good news, […]
Wildlife charity The RSPB has issued some guidelines to help us when feeding our garden birds during the festive season. If you are tempted to put out cooking fat from the Christmas roast, the advice given is not to. The cooled fat mixed with roasted meat juices can easily smear onto birds’ feathers and interfere […]
The sound of birdsong will play in over 5,000 unexpected locations this Thursday 17th October as the RSPB launch a new campaign urging politicians to act on climate change and the environment. The wildlife charity expects around five-million people to hear the birds sing as they link up with businesses and supporters around the UK […]
Conservation charity The RSPB has released some top tips on helping wildlife this season, with spokesperson Beth Markey offering her advice on how to make our gardens nature-friendly in preparation for winter. Don’t tidy your autumn garden At this time of year, it’s really important to avoid the urge to cut back and tidy too […]
Stratford Butterfly Farm has introduced several stunning new butterfly species and tropical birds to their collection this summer. After months of careful sourcing, the seldom-seen Dero Clearwing, from the rainforests of Columbia, the Procilla Beauty, from Costa Rica and the Blue Pansy, from Thailand can now be seen on display. In addition, three new Kakarikis […]
CJ Wildlife would like us to spare a thought for our garden birds this summer as they may be struggling to find essential food and water in the heat. Although most wild birds are well adapted and have several ways to regulate their body temperature, the heat still brings with it a number of problems […]
One of the biggest international birding events will take place in England’s smallest county next month. Birdfair, held on the shores of Rutland Water Nature Reserve, attracts thousands of visitors from around the world each year, all passionate about bird watching, eco-tourism and wildlife conservation. Often referred to as the ‘Glastonbury of the birding world’, Birdfair is […]
To celebrate our glorious UK birdlife – and to highlight the devastating loss of over 40 million birds from the UK in 50 years – the RSPB has launched a free birdsong radio app. Broadcasting a soothing soundscape featuring species in serious decline, such as the turtle dove, nightingale, snipe, greenfinch and curlew, Birdsong Radio […]
The National Trust has launched a campaign in partnership with RSPB and the National Trust for Scotland to protect seabirds living on UK islands from predators. The Save Our Seabirds project aims to raise awareness of the risk to seabirds such as puffins, Manx shearwater and European storm-petrel from predators such as rats, stoats and […]
The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch took place over the last weekend in January and this year almost half a million people took part across the UK counting an impressive 7.5 million birds. The results are now in and reveal a mixed picture for our garden birdlife with 15 of the top 20 species returning fewer sightings […]
The Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) are calling on people to make a difference to wildlife and put in a pond for this year’s Wild About Gardens challenge. From mini container ponds to larger sunken ponds – or even a waterproof container outside your front door – adding a pond is one […]
Oliver Hellowell is a celebrated young wildlife photographer, and quite rightly so because the images he takes of his passion – birds – are stunning. Oliver’s work is sold around the world, winning awards, TV appearances and praise from other professionals. However, what sets Oliver apart from others is that he has Down Syndrome. Having […]
Birdland Park and Gardens will be hosting an event to celebrate all things feathered and fiendish over the half-term holiday week (16th– 24th February). ‘Birds Behaving Badly’ offers a look at the truly disgusting habits of some of the world’s worst – from blood-sucking songbirds and puking penguins to stinking storks and spitting swallows. Keepers […]
Visitors to the Victorian aviary at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire can now help Asian songbirds with one tap using new contactless payment units to donate. The ‘Silent Forest: Asian Songbird Crisis’ campaign was launched by European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) to highlight the devastating effect of South-East Asian songbirds being taken from the […]
Chester Zoo has announced the hatching of two chicks belonging to a species that was declared extinct in the wild 47 years ago. The Socorro dove originates from an island located 400 miles off the west coast of Mexico, but vanished from the wild completely in 1972. The birds were wiped out after sheep were […]
The Little Book of Safari Animal Sounds by Andrea Pinnington and Caz Buckingham landed on our desks in the Discover Animals office recently and I took it home for my two children (5 and 1) to review! Through this fact-packed guide, readers can discover the unexpected call of the Plains Zebra, feel a chill when listening […]
The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust have nine wetland centres spread throughout the UK offering fantastic days out and the chance to get close to amazing wildlife such as otters, flamingos, water voles and rare birds from around the world. In Gloucestershire, Slimbridge Wetland Centre is currently undergoing a £6 million transformation with plans to unveil […]
Environmental organisation Friends of the Earth released a thought provoking film this week to ask the question: can we make space for nature? With 4 out of 5 members of the British public over-estimating how built-up the UK is, and 90% underestimating how many species of birds, animals, plants and fish are under-threat, it’s clear we […]