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Dear RSPB,

I've lived in this area all my life and would never dream of leaving, I have everything I need right here for me. My friends all feed here, all sleep here. I met my missus here. Even the neighbours, most of them are fine. Some of them are tiny wee things, what with their long tails and bright pink plumage. Some of them are bigger, and have the most melodious of voices. All the tits, the finches, the wrens, dunnocks, buntings, siskins, all top notch chaps and gals. Brand new, thats what they are. The ducks are a laugh although some of the tufted ones are quackers.

But if there's one thing I cannot abide, it's bullies! Here's my point. I'm down there, doing my thing, picking at the seed dropped from the feeders by some over-enthusiastic goldfinch and rooting about in the undergrowth for any worms the robin may have missed and all of a sudden this thug is sizing me up! Looking at me like I've personally offended its family, somehow. Then without provocation its flying straight at me, all angry and the like. Shocked, I retreat - I have no wish to get all scuffed up by some big-beaked seasonal visitor. But its all over me again. Then sometimes there's two of them, badgering me and ruining my day and all. They act like they own the place, where really its just timeshare for them.

It's really annoying sometimes!

What's worrying is that with all this talk of climate change, we may be seeing more of the winter migrants, seeking warmer weather here because their home turf is frozen solid. I guess, however, thats just a bridge we'll have to cross when we come to it. Harrumph.

Blasted fieldfares!

Yours sincerely,

Mr Black Bird, 10 Apple Tree Lane, Wormton, UK

Written by Andrew Kyle, Lochwinnoch volunteer

Valentine's Day is not all about flowers, chocolates and cards you know. It is traditionally the time of year that birds are supposed to start pairing up and it is also (supposedly) the day that birds choose their nestbox for the season ahead. Of course, in reality this isn't quite the case, or we'd be witnessing mass bird hysteria as they fight for the best, safest spots! Blue tits would be queuing up round the visitor centre and demanding we install more housing!

However, there is definitely change in the air. A lot more song can be heard in the morning and throughout the day. Ducks and swans have begun their courtship behavior - not just to start new relationships but to re-ignite the old flames. Many birds that have spent the winter alone will now be making preparations for the return of their mate and many getting ready to start anew.

This week (14th - 21st Feb) is National Nestbox Week and marks the last chance to put up a nestbox if you want birds to use it this year. Although it appears to us as if birds only pick their nestbox when they start bringing the material in, if you look closely they are making spot checks all through the winter. Carefully looking to see if there is a good supply of food, plenty of shelter and safety from predators in the spot that they will raise this years family.

Some birds, such as robins, blackbirds and song thrushes have been known to be nesting already, therefore it is very important to note that it is too late to clean out your nest boxes this year (the birds may do this themselves anyway) as some birds may have already started nest building and you wouldn't want to disturb all that hard work!

So, what kinds of nestboxes should you be installing? Well, depending on your garden, at least one tit box would be a good idea - this can be mounted on a tree, a wall, a shed - anything really! And should be placed about 2 - 4m high facing between north and east (thus avoiding the strong sunlight and wettest winds). Tit boxes should be installed in the autumn, but they will not seriously start investigating them until February & March. Tit boxes should have a 25mm hole (for blue, coal and marsh tits) to avoid competition with other, larger species.

If you have some good, thick vegetation in your garden (some big shrubs, ivy etc) then you may well have an ideal spot to site a robin/wren box. These boxes are open fronted and should be placed low down (below 2m) and well hidden.

If you are lucky enough to have house sparrows in your local area, why not install a terrace box? House sparrows spend their whole lives in colonies and there are no exceptions when nesting. Either a 3 chambered box or 2 or 3 individual boxes, loosely spaced, could be situated high up under the eaves of your house. The entrance hole should be 28 or 32mm.

There are many other types of boxes as well - woodpecker, owl, kestrel, starling, house martin, swallow, treecreeper - all of which help us to provide alternative nesting spots for birds when suitable habitat is scarce. For a comprehensive guide on all types of nestboxes, visit the BTO nestbox guide at http://www.bto.org/notices/nestbox_guide.htm. And if you would like to buy a nestbox of your own, visit www.rspbshop.co.uk plus, get 10% off all nestboxes during National Nestbox Week!

Nestbox dos and don'ts:

They should:

• Be robust - they are out in all weathers so should be strong and fit for purpose
• Be waterproof - treat them with a water-based preservative
• Have the correct hole size (and remember a variety of sizes will encourage different species)
• Be safe - no sharp edges, protruding nails or small gaps
• Have good insulation - wood or woodcrete is best
• Have no perches

They should not:

• Be brightly coloured - the more inconspicuous the better
• Be made from flimsy material
• Be too shallow - young birds could leave prematurely by falling out
• Be too deep - young birds may have problems leaving
• Be too smooth inside - again, this may make it hard for young birds to get out
• Have gaps - rain, wind and cold will get in

Paula, 15/02/09

Eating and doing what one does day in day out every day of the week is a mundane thing. You must understand that. Yet, we watch and we love watching the little birds flock to our feeders, eating and doing what they do. They sit and twitter, or perch and peck, and go on, every day, doing tiny things that set fire to our hearts and let our spirits soar. However, I started thinking, what do we look like to them? We stand and watch them doing things we find fascinating, but if we were to do those things ourselves we’d think nothing of it. I stood by the window watching a single blue tit the other day and as it perched there eating some of the newly discovered Fruity Nibbles, it stopped, and looked right at me. Just for a moment, I was transfixed. Was it as excited about the meeting of the eyes that I was…

…The man was staring straight at me. He had in one hand a bottle of juice and the other a sandwich and he seemed to have frozen to the spot. Now usually they’re always moving back and forth behind their walls, carting bags of food around, filling up our feeders every now and then, but most commonly watching us through the windows, pointing their telescopes, cameras and binoculars out in our direction, seemingly entranced by our antics. Personally, I don’t see the attraction. I visit the feeder, eat what I feel like, then dart off, hoping to catch the eye of the little minx from Aird Meadow or perhaps the cute one from the tree by the road. Then I return and repeat the process. If I’m up for a little bit of DIY I collect moss or bits of grass to pad the inside of my box for warmth.

They’re kind, those people, for saving me some effort. I use the boxes they make for us instead of making up nests myself. Although I have done so on occasion, don’t think me a sponger of charity! I think they’re amazing!. They devote so much time and effort to servicing us and what do we do in return? We do what we always do and would continue to do even if they weren’t there. Does that not mean we’re taking them for granted, letting them slave over us for no reward? I feel guilty sometimes.

Which is why, I guess, I every so often do something to impress them. It can be the smallest of things, but it gets them all in a fuss, swarming round the viewing windows and chattering away in their strange voices. I could fly close to the window and hover for a few seconds. Or, I could circle the feeders a couple of times then land atop the wooden peg. I’ve seen them drop their books and rush up for a better look.

The woodpecker and fieldfare have it nailed – they simply stay away for long periods and then they make fleeting appearances, knowing full well their rare presence is an event in itself. One wonders whether the hen harrier thinks the same.

To be honest, I’m not sure what it is we’ve done for them or why our little nothings make them so happy, but I know I’m happy when I see them watching us. They’re our guardians I guess, our angels. So when I see one transfixed by me looking at him, I feel a warm buzz inside myself, and I thank them for thinking so highly of me, never asking for anything in return.

Andrew Kyle, Lochwinnoch volunteer