Image: Courtesy of Nick Patel
To celebrate the amazing work of nature-loving birders, Happy Beaks is shining the spotlight on those who champion, photograph and share valuable bird watching tips with others. We recently talked to Nick Patel – the inspirational birder, conservationist, nature tour guide and former warden also known as @_wilderskies_. Here’s what he told us about his passion for all things wild…
How did you first get interested in bird watching?
Image: Courtesy of Nick Patel
I’ve loved birds all my life, and been birdwatching since I was a child. The passion has never dwindled, only boomed day by day. When I was growing up and didn’t feel like I had somewhere I fit in, being outside and birding felt like home and a safe space. Now it gets me outside, gives me clarity and opens my eyes up to the world.
My five favourite British species are Black redstart, Bohemian Waxwing, Ring ouzel, Roseate tern and Common Swift. Waxwing and Black redstart hold a particularly close place in my heart as, growing up in urban Lancashire, they were a staple of the grey winters in the city, adding insane colours to otherwise dreary backdrops. I recommend everyone to get out and get birding, for themselves and for wildlife.
What are your top tips for attracting birds to your garden?
Image: Courtesy of Nick Patel
To attract birds to your garden, first consider where you are in the UK, nearby habitats, and what birds are regularly seen in your local area. Then you can start to match up the right feed for the birds you want to see and offer other important help during their visit. Remember that growing native plants to match those in the nearby habitat is just as vital as feeders. This provides security, extra food, as well as potential for nesting. It also helps to improve wildlife corridors in the area.
Birding can happen 24/7, absolutely anywhere! Sometimes, particularly during migratory periods, even just a sky will do. Dreamy passage flyover birds (like Osprey, Crane and Alpine swift) can be seen going through absolutely anywhere, if you look at the right time.
Obviously binoculars and a scope can help with watching birds in the garden, but just setting up a decent feeding station in front of a window can make for a great home bird hide. Nowadays, cameras that watch feeders when you’re not there are a great addition. Bird ID apps like Merlin also help identify ‘heard-only’ birds.
How has birding impacted your life?
Image: Courtesy of Nick Patel
Birdwatching has meant the world to me for the majority of my life. It’s not just the activity of birdwatching, and it’s not just birds, but the appreciation it’s given me for the natural world as a whole.
It’s also the place I go to when I need time to think, to collect myself, or to have those moments of reflection. I owe everything to it. And for me, a bad day’s birding is still better than a good day otherwise!
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about Nick Patel from @_wilderskies_. Want to stock up your bird feeders to make a home ‘hide’? Read our helpful bird food guide before stocking up on specialist bird seed mixes tailored to attract specific species.
