There is currently a bird situation going on. If us humans and other threatening species are not being subject to rather scary flyovers by seagulls, there are warning signs in public gardens about crows behaving in an aggressive manner. All due, naturally, to their baby season. Whilst most of the year, birds get on well with the rest of the world, that is not now. But as in all other years it will pass and we will appreciate each other again.
Wherever I look around these days there are bee hotels. Caring for pollinators is the new black. I think most of us still care about birds, but it now being the bella stagione and all, bees is where it’s at. Taking care of bees follows the precedent of birds.
But the idea of looking after birds is not as old as you think. It wasn’t until the late 19th century a more humane approach to wild birds entered public thought (realising they were not only for being eaten or caught, blinded and caged to sing better in the back yards). It was around this stage that The Society for the Protection of Birds was founded in England and it was observed that what attracts wild birds to a garden are water, food and a safe place to nest. Before long there was a plethora of bird houses, feeders and baths available on the market. Early on it was discovered that birds like the natural look, thinking suspiciously of artificial-looking things. The same design ideas apply today.
The bird houses seen in the pic are, by the way, one of the fanciest I’ve seen up and close.
