As I write, the sun's shining, the birds are singing and all's well with the world; as long as you ignore all the bad things.
Big Schools' Birdwatch launched on a wet and windy day so instead of spending an afternoon recording birds on a shrub-and-house-sparrow-filled patch of land with pupils from William Tyndell Primary in Islington, we spent an hour in the school hall instead. The children were brilliant; they were well behaved, asked some good questions and had lots to say about their own experiences of birds and wildlife in London. Having missed the schools' watch, I'm sure many of the pupils will take part in this weekend's Big Garden Birdwatch.
Today, the weather's improved here so I'm sure participating schools will be able to get out of their classrooms to record what they do and don't see. The important thing is to return the findings to us, even if there was nothing to see. We need to know where birds aren't, just as much as we need to know where they are. Having said that, I doubt there is anywhere in the UK where you won't see a bird.
Even where disaster strikes you'll find birds. Our Pulborough Brooks reserve is presently under more floodwater than it's seen in the past eight years. The waterlogged fields have acted like a magnet, attracting thousands of wildfowl including pintail, wigeon and teal. Of course, it's not so good for others such as waders like lapwing and snipe and I'm sure the resident barn owls will struggle to find as much food from the flooded landscape.
Having spent quite considerable time in primary schools talking with children you can become trapped in their world where many things are just black and white, no complications, just right or wrong. When it comes to conservation there rarely are simple answers. Unless it's a straightforward issue such as whether to extend the runway at a small local airport and turn it into an International flight hub right next to a major nature reserve supporting thousands of wildfowl, also known as big flying birds!
It's very easy to become ostrich-like, but here are some wise words of advice my Dad passed on to me. 'Don't go burying your head in the hope that an issue will go away, it doesn't work'. Climate change is happening and you can help us measure it by taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch. You can help us address it too through simple actions, like turning off your tap when brushing your teeth, growing some flowers in a window-box or by supporting the RSPB through volunteering, membership or in whatever way you can. We don't ignore big issues, we tackle them. Visit our UK9 stand at the Destinations show at Earls Court later this month to find out more. You'll discover that we also take time to enjoy the successes, the silver linings and the everyday joys, such as the sun setting over a flooded field inhabited by a flock of happy ducks - much better than a scene of flooded homes.