Explore the journal
A closer look at the birds around us.
Explore garden visitors, seasonal feeding, nesting and bird behaviour. Find practical guides for making your outdoor space more welcoming to wild birds.
Mallards can detect some natural light at night, but not total darkness. They are not colourblind: studies found four cone types in their retinas. Learn what that does and does not tell us about ducks after dusk.
4 min read
Wild mallards have no fixed waking time. Studies in Europe show activity peaks around dawn and dusk, while some birds feed at night. Here is when and where to watch without mistaking a dawn flight for a wake-up.
4 min read
Seasonal wildlife guide
UK · September–November
Pause seeds and peanuts through October. From November, food choices widen. Keep feeders clean and follow the seasonal guidance.
Read the autumn bird-feeding guide Browse all seasonal guides →
Seasonal wildlife guide
UK · Spring and summer
In UK gardens, pause seeds and peanuts from May through October. Offer suitable food in small amounts, keep water fresh and follow local guidance.
Read the spring and summer feeding guide Browse all seasonal guides →
Adult pet ducks can have a little plain, clean cilantro as a leafy extra. Keep complete duck feed central, and do not assume dried coriander seeds or health claims have the same evidence.
3 min read
A robin may grow used to a gardener, but following a spade does not prove face recognition. Learn what the research tested and what to watch for.
3 min read
UK garden birds can eat plain, dry, uncooked oats. Learn which oats to use, when to put them out and why cooked porridge is best avoided.
3 min read
For a normal UK garden bird box, leave the inside clean and unlined. Learn what birds collect themselves, how to help nearby, and when an old box needs cleaning.
3 min read
Blackbirds can use the same garden territory across seasons and years, but a familiar visitor may be a different bird. Learn what you can observe and why winter sightings can mislead.
3 min read
Young blackbirds often spend time on the ground before they can fly. Learn how to spot a fledgling, when to leave it alone and when to seek help.
3 min read
No method guarantees that only blackbirds will get the food. A short mealworm offering, a carefully tested guard and a clean feeding routine can give them a better chance in a UK garden.
3 min read
Eastern Bluebirds may raise one to three broods a season, usually with four or five eggs per clutch. Compare Western and Mountain Bluebirds and learn how to observe nests safely.
3 min read
Soak a small portion of dried mealworms in warm water for a few minutes, offer it fresh and clear leftovers by dusk. UK guidance on safe garden feeding.
4 min read
Bluebirds do not follow a fixed fledging hour. Learn what the evidence shows, how to estimate the window and how to watch without disturbing them.
4 min read
Ducks have no teeth. Learn how lamellae, specialised bills and a muscular gizzard help them collect and break down food.
4 min read
Some wild birds live only a few years; exceptional individuals survive for decades. Compare typical lifespans with ringing records and learn what those figures mean.
5 min read
Birds use shade, bathing and evaporative cooling to cope with summer heat. Learn how to offer shelter and water safely in a UK garden.
5 min read
Most garden birds roost in dense cover, cavities, nest boxes or communal sites after dark. Learn where UK birds sleep and how to provide safer shelter.
6 min read
Compare cages, short perches and weight-sensitive feeders, with practical checks for access, cleaning and seasonal feeding.
7 min read
Choose suitable food and a manageable summer routine, with UK seasonal feeding guidance clearly distinguished from advice for the United States and Canada.
6 min read
Choose food, quantities and a cleaning routine for the colder months, with UK and North American feeding advice clearly distinguished.
8 min read
Help birds feel at home with natural food, clean water and useful cover. Five practical steps for UK gardens, with current feeding guidance and a simple checklist.
7 min read
Food, water and shelter for visiting birds — with updated UK feeding advice and practical answers.
6 min read
Ground feeders are low trays for offering food, but current UK advice favours other ways to support birds. Understand the designs, the risks and the alternatives.
8 min read
Blue jays, American robins and red-winged blackbirds have all been recorded eating cicadas. Find out which other birds take them, when to look during an emergence, and what one sighting can tell you.
3 min read
Showing 12–22 of 23 articles