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Birding in March 2011

When the weather is cold, grey and miserable, it can be hard to imagine when winter will finally end and spring will begin.

The birds in our gardens and countryside can't afford to sit around, feeling glum and wishing the sun would come out. There's important work to be done breeding! Perhaps like us you have noticed evidence of birds getting geared up for the new breeding season by the increase in birdsong and nest building that has occurred over the past few weeks.

While some birds, such as robins, sing throughout the winter (indeed, both males and females sing to protect their territory), others recommence singing at this time of year, both to attract potential mates and to signal to other birds the boundaries of their 'patch'.

Whilst pruning our trees and hedges we came across a number of old nests and noticed all the hard work that must have been put into building them, perhaps like you we wondered if birds reuse old nests from year to year but this is seldom the case.

Observations indicate that many birds, including swifts and swallows, return to the same nest-site each year but most nests, found in trees and hedges, are seldom used more than once. Even birds like blackbirds and song thrushes which raise several broods each year generally use a new nest each time. But they do save a bit of time and effort by dismantling the old nest and recycling some of the pieces for the new build. The size, shape and complexity of nests vary widely. Some are hardly nests at all, just hollows formed by the body of the bird, or cavities in trees or amongst rocks. Others are intricately complex, woven structures composed of a large amount of material.

It is often the female who is the master builder but a well-known exception to this is the Wren. The male wren works extremely hard building several nests throughout his territory then escorting his mate to view his handiwork and allowing her to choose where she will lay her eggs. Twigs, moss, wool, feathers, leaves and even cobwebs are popular nesting material.

Birds only spend a small part of their year often only a few days building nests, and yet they instinctively build it to a design that is unique to their species.

If you’re looking out of your window you may see them collecting material and witness this remarkable workmanship taking place around you.

D.H.