Birdsong is central to every countryside idyll we conjure up, yet the dawn chorus is increasingly subdued in urban centres as species decline due to habitat loss, pesticide usage, and climate change.

 

However, some garden bird species, such as the goldfinch, have been making something of a comeback recently, in great part due to the actions of kind individuals who take time to feed the birds. Feeding birds is beneficial in all seasons. In the spring, female birds need extra energy to produce eggs; in the summer, growing fledglings require extra food; in the autumn, migrating birds need to fatten up for their long journeys; in the winter, birds that remain in the UK benefit from support to survive the scarcity of winter. You can also help the birds who visit your area by planting native species that provide cover and food, and by creating bird baths and nesting boxes. The RSPB have some great ideas of how to help birds (and other wildlife) at home.

 

We can all do our part to help our feathery friends, whose music brings us so much joy.

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Spend a minute listening to Deptford's birds using the audio player above. Press 'back' to hear more of Deptford's natural world come to life.