It's been an emotional start to the New Year. Tears of happiness and great sadness.
Now, with the Big Garden Birdwatch looming it's time to pick myself up, shed the extra pounds gained over the seasonal break and step briskly forwards into 2011. For birds, they'll still be looking to maintain or gain weight. In their case, weight loss is a slippery slope towards death. I've said enough in previous blogs about the importance of putting out food for wildlife so won't repeat it again.
There are a number of events being staged as part of the Birdwatch weekend. The Friends of Greenwich Park will be running activities on Saturday 29th. Our Bexley Local Group have a photo exhibition at Hall Place and our reserves, Rainham and Rye Meads are busy too.
The point of the birdwatch is to get a national snapshot every year of the changing numbers of different birds. Comparing results from previous years shows if populations of birds are changing. These changes reflect the health of our surroundings.
It's going to be a busy year. We're already out recruiting new supporters at the Outdoor Show, taking place right now at Excel until the 16th of Jan. It includes the London Bike Show and the London International Boat Show, so everything you need for the outdoors under one roof (well 3 roofs but you know what we mean).
February and March see us out enjoying all we've learned and acquired at The Outdoor Show as we go free range with our Dates with Nature. From mid-February we'll be in Kensington Gardens pointing out the tawny owls that live and breed there. In March, Battersea's herons will be the focus of our telescopes. It's free to use them to get close up views of these amazing dinosaur-like birds and their young.
2011 will be all about enjoying the natural wonders around us and de-stressing with nature. For me, this year's Big Garden Birdwatch will be dedicated to the lovely Nathalie Schorbon, who died suddenly just before Christmas. Her enthusiasm for sharing her great knowledge of wildlife with others will stay with me forever, thanks Nat.