As sure as eggs is eggs, the bird breeding season is getting underway. Some start early - tawny owls, grey herons and crossbills are all species which don't hang around for warmer weather and might have chicks already! There's lots of singing going on and soon our spring migrants will be arriving from southern Europe and Africa, so it's all go.
Last year's breeding season was a washout for many species, with cold, wet weather making it difficult for parents to find enough food and keep their young warm.
We can't do much about the rain, but there are lots of things you can do to give breeding birds a helping hand at home in your garden, on your balcony, or in your windowbox.
Plant a wildlife-friendly garden
By choosing wildlife-friendly plants for your patch, you can make a big difference in lots of ways. Choose nectar-rich, native plants and flowers to attract butterflies, moths, bees and other insects, which are great to watch and will help provide food for wildlife higher up the food chain. Lots of birds need caterpillars and grubs to feed their chicks, even if they eat seeds the rest of the time. Shrubs and trees can make places to nest and shelter, as well as different sources of food.
Put up nestboxes
Putting up a nestbox is one of the quickest and easiest things to do. We have info to help you make your own, or you can buy from our online shop. Instead of going for a standard nestbox with a small hole, why not choose a different one with a bigger hole to allow starlings to get in and out? Or an open-fronted design for robins and wagtails? Alternatively, you could buy or make a 'bug hotel' - a home for insects like harmless leafcutter bees which are fascinating to watch.
In the attic
If you're planning to do any work on your roof, bear birds in mind. Older buildings in particular can give birds like swifts and starlings valuable places to nest. If you're going to close up holes before they start to nest (if they've already started, your maintenance will have to wait til they've finished!), put up a nestbox to compensate.
Put out nesting material
Gathering building material for a nest is hard work. When you brush your dog or cat, you could put out the loose hair in the garden for birds to use. Moss is popular too, so if you're raking it up, how about leaving some for birds to use?
Put out food
Though there are some foods which aren't suitable for spring and summer, there are plenty of others to choose from. If you feel like really spoiling your local birds rotten, you could treat them to some tasty mealworms...
Let us know what you've seen in your garden. Who's building a nest, and who's collecting food for chicks already?