Coming out of hiding into Siberian type conditions

As I type I'm looking out of my window and I can hardly believe the number of birds I'm seeing in the garden. This just goes to prove my theory that every bird checks out the RSPB website to see when Big Garden Birdwatch weekend is. They then all make sure they stay out of sight while we all sit there waiting to tick our boxes and submit our results. As soon as the last sighting is entered, out they all come again and go about their daily business. For example, today I saw four wood pigeons - four! Last Saturday, none! And so it goes on.

But, with temperatures dropping to below freezing and flurries of snow swirling in the wind, I really do worry about our smaller birds making it through the night. That is why it is so important to put food out for them, and to make sure that they have a supply of water easily available. That can be the difference between life and death for many species.

For example, we have been enjoying a fantastic pied wagtail roost near where I live in North London. Every evening at around dusk about 80 or more of these wonderful little birds fly into a tree outside our local Somerfield supermarket and settle for the night. Since the cold snap in early January we have seen far fewer and for the last week or so there haven't been any in the tree at all. We are not sure if this means they haven't survived the cold, or if they have picked another place to spend their nights. Watch this space and I'll let you know if we find them.

As well as putting food out for the birds in these cold conditions, you can help birds to survive by being extra careful when you are out birding. Birds do not need to waste vital energy flying away from us if we get too close to their perches or roosts. So, please try very hard not to cause birds to have to fly away from you and find another spot to perch. I was in Dorset at the beginning of January hoping to see a short-eared owl at dusk when a total idiot walked across the field clapping his hands. I presume he was hoping to make the owls fly, but all he succeeded in doing was disturbing lots of other birds on a brutally cold evening - making them waste energy they desperately needed to keep warm.

Finally, back to the Big Garden Birdwatch. I just wanted to say thanks to the volunteers from the City of London who came out to survey birds in city gardens. The rain could not dampen their enthusiasm, and we saw some great birds. It was also a treat to spend time in the gardens of St Paul's Cathedral with one of the gardeners, whose local knowledge was fantastic. It is always worth talking to the locals because you will learn a lot about the birds that are regular visitors and the best places to spot them.