#BGBW

What is #BGBW?

Well this weekend it is the RSPB's Big Garden Bird Watch. Each year, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, runs a weekend long activity, whereby they encourage you to count the number of birds and species that visit your garden in a one hour period, chosen by yourself. You simply record the maxima of any species that visit in that hour, it couldn't be simpler! Why not sign up if you are in the UK? It is free, and your hour will give the RSPB massive amounts of data to analyse and help future conservation work on our declining garden birds.

Don't worry if you haven't got any bird food to hand. You have probably got plenty in the kitchen. Chop an apple up into quarters, and toss it on the lawn. Chances are you will attract a passing blackbird, like this female one in this blip. If you are lucky, you may get a song thrush, and if you are blessed to be living in area that has them at the moment, you may even get a Waxwing.

Try putting some grated cheese out. Again, blackbirds go mad for it, as do Robins, Dunnocks and Wrens.

Sultanas are another favourite of song birds. Put some to soak in water overnight, to provide them with fluids too.

Every kitchen can spare some bread to be crumbed up, or some crushed biscuits.

Give it a go, get the kids involved .. do something good for the world around you this weekend .. and it will cost you nothing more than an hour of your time!