Birds

 

I will never forget the first time I saw a baby gull. I looked at it. It looked at me. I turned to my boat’s first mate and said, “What’s this? It’s got the same type of beak as a gull but it’s brown and fluffy”. That cemented my relationship with burning; My sailing days were continuously enriched by spotting and identification of all the different species of birds at sea and around the coast. On one cross channel sail to France, I saw a whole flock of birds coming towards me. And again, the context meant that at first I didn’t identify them. They were swallows, Migrating from Africa to the UK for the summer. I just don’t normally see swallows at sea. All summer along, I see them around my home, But they are not seabirds. Equally I expected only to see curlew on the coast. And then I visited friends in Rural Yorkshire, Where curlews live in the fields.

Why Birds Matter in the UK – And Why You Should Care

I have recently been undertaking the 60 miles in June Walking challenge to raise money for pancreatic cancer UK. It is a concern close to my heart as my mum died from pancreatic cancer at nine weeks after diagnosis. She had recently moved up to live close to me and my newborn son. Only the illness is so swift that my child will never know his grandmother. On my walks, I hear a lot of birds song, perhaps particularly as I have to undertake my walks very early in the morning or in the evening. For this reason I have begun to undertake identification by birdsong. After all, you can often hear them, but cannot see them, or see them very fleetingly. They tend to be uninclined to stay still for long enough for me to Observe all of the noted identification marks from the booksidentify the. but these Encountersare more than just glimpses of nature; Birds are woven into the very fabric of the UK's identity. They’re everywhere: cities, villages, woodlands, coastlines. But many of them are disappearing. And that’s something worth caring about.

Birds Are Closer Than You Think

Birds are one of the most accessible forms of wildlife in the UK. You don’t need to trek through remote forests or dive into deep seas to see them — they come to us. Whether you’re walking through a city park, in Manchester, Where I saw my first magpie, or in Peterborough, and my first  flash of blue as a kingfisher streaks past a riverbank, or Working on the water treatment works where I saw my first woodpecker, planning to use the duck or guess the goose during car share rides to work and university, sipping tea in your garden, or hiking the moors, there’s a good chance you’ll spot a robin, hear a wren, or see a red kite circling overhead. Their presence is comforting, constant, and often deeply personal. For many people, birds are their first connection to nature. And a closer connection to nature is something we all have a deficiency of.

Fascinating, Feathered Wonders

Birds are endlessly interesting. The UK plays host to over 600 species, including permanent residents, seasonal migrants, and occasional vagrants blown in from far-off lands. From the acrobatic aerial displays of swifts to the intricate songs of nightingales, there’s no shortage of drama, beauty, and surprise in the avian world.

Some species are remarkable travelers. The Arctic tern (look closely, some of them are not seagulls) for example, migrates from the UK to Antarctica and back each year the longest migration of any animal on Earth. Others, like the puffin, are delightfully quirky. These “sea parrots” nest in clifftop burrows and can dive up to 60 meters underwater. Puffing into my favourite bird and a special treat for my 40th birthday we visited Northumbria specifically to see . Then there’s the barn owl — ghostly, silent, and somehow timeless — gliding over fields at dusk.

Beyond their behaviour, birds offer insight into ecosystems. They’re like canaries in the coal mine — quite literally in some cases — giving early warnings about environmental health. Declines in bird populations often reflect larger problems: habitat destruction, pesticide use, or climate change. When the birds go quiet, it’s time to worry.

A Cultural and Historical Bond

Birds have long been embedded in British culture. Royal swans, swan upping, the nightingale in poetry, the skylark in music. Even Anna and Freddie in EastEnders took up bird spotting In Albert . Robins are on Christmas cards and represent departed souls visiting to bring us , owls grace storybooks, and the brown sparrow fills urban folklore. Garden birdwatching is one of the UK’s most popular pastimes. The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, draws hundreds of thousands of participants each year. Birding isn't just for experts with binoculars — it’s a shared national tradition.

Birds also support our mental health and wellbeing. Scientific studies consistently show that hearing birdsong or watching birds can lower stress and anxiety. Certainly for me walking amongst bird has helped my anxiety improved my mental well-being as well as helped my physical health. During the pandemic lockdowns, interest in birds surged. People found hope, distraction, and peace in simply watching goldfinches flit between feeders or listening to the morning chorus. In a world that often feels increasingly chaotic, birds offer a grounding connection to the natural world.

Under Threat: What’s at Stake

Despite all their beauty and benefits, many of the UK’s bird species are in trouble. The red list of birds of conservation concern is getting longer. Iconic birds like the cuckoo, turtle dove, and curlew have seen their numbers plummet. The turtle dove, once a staple of summer soundscapes, has declined by over 90% since the 1970s. That’s not just a statistic — it’s the silencing of a voice that once sang every British summer. Without the call of the cuckoo, we cannot be doing all summer what we were doing when we heard our first cooker with the summer. And thrushes are no longer, garden bird.

The reasons are complex but ultimately human-driven. Loss of habitat due to intensive farming, urban development, and deforestation has been devastating. The use of pesticides and herbicides reduces the insects many birds rely on. Climate change disrupts migration and breeding patterns. Even seemingly harmless actions, like keeping cats outdoors or failing to clean bird feeders, can have cascading impacts.

Seabirds, too, are under pressure. The UK’s coastline is home to massive colonies of puffins, guillemots, and gannets, but pollution, overfishing, and warming seas threaten their food supplies and nesting grounds. Some species, like the kittiwake, are in danger of disappearing altogether from British cliffs.

What Can We Do?

Caring about birds is not just a sentimental act — it’s a practical one. Protecting birds means protecting nature as a whole. The good news? You don’t have to be a conservationist to make a difference.

You can start in your own garden or balcony. Plant native shrubs, put up a bird feeder, or leave a patch of lawn uncut to provide food and shelter. Keep feeders clean to prevent disease, and consider adding a bird bath or nest box. Support organisations like the RSPB or your local wildlife trust. Volunteer. Donate. Speak up when planning decisions threaten green spaces.

Even small changes help. Choose organic produce when possible — fewer pesticides means more insects, and more insects mean more birds. Avoid peat-based compost, as peatlands are vital habitats. Keep your cat indoors during peak bird breeding season. Advocate for better environmental policies. Vote with birds in mind.

A Shared Future

Birds don’t ask for much. A safe place to nest. Enough food to eat. Clean air, clean water, and a bit of space to live their lives. In return, they give us beauty, music, wonder, and a sense of connection to the natural world that is both ancient and essential.

So next time you hear a blackbird sing or spot a kestrel hovering over a motorway verge, take a moment to appreciate it. These creatures enrich our lives in countless ways. And right now, they need us. Let’s not wait until the songs are silenced and the skies grow empty. Let's care — while we still have the chance.