I have spent a lot of time with the binoculars at the kitchen window and apart from the unfortunate incident with the neighbour who I think misinterpreted my bird-spotting hobby for peeping tom activities it has been a very satisfying week.
Just taking into account the sixteen bird species that visit my garden, the RSPB estimates that across the United Kingdom there are about thirty-three million nesting pairs. I have been doing some calculations and based on the number of broods and the average number of eggs that means potentially two hundred and ninety-five million extra mouths to feed each summer.
Across the entire World scientists estimate that there are three hundred billion and that is roughly fifty birds to every human being or a hundred million for every Giant Panda!
Have Bag, Will Travel 
He’s a bit grumpy looking though 🙂
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He’s only just got up!
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Ah, true, and the tent blew away by the looks of it.
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My count in our Sydney backyard is 49 species, and 80 in our suburb of Marrickville. The only ones to nest in the backyard are Indian mynahs, unfortunately – pests to all other birds.
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49 is a good count Richard. We have blackbirds and sparrows nesting this year!
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I like this change up of a post Andrew. I roared at the peeping Tom suggestion. Too funny. That’s quite the record book as well. 🙂
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My children think the record book is rather sad. Keeping records like these comes with retirement.
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Beats running around like a maniac during the working years. 🙂
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I do the same thing, too. That’s the only way to see the babies
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Haha cool 🙂
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A couple of years before I retired, I took the summer off and gave myself permission to just be. I sat on my deck a lot that year watching all the birds who came to visit. Had to go out a buy a bird book after that. Such a relaxing way to wile away a few hours. This is a wonderful reminder, Andrew. Thanks. 🙂
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I like the birds to visit my garden but I am not so keen on the seagulls who nest on my roof!
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I wouldn’t either. It’s nice if birds visit but seagulls are m.e.s.s.y.
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Actually they did make too much mess but they are just so noisy!
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How can I forget n.o.i.s.e.y.
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Great grumpy bird photo. Did you take it? My husband does nature photography, so I know how elusive a good bird photo can be. They just don’t seem to want to sit and pose.
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Wow, such variety in the birds you have in your environs. Makes me want to go out and take a look at what we have here!
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OMG – I laughed out loud at the Peeping Tom reference. We’ve had no altercations with the neighbours but I’m confident they are wondering sometimes 🙂
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