Living The Wildlife

Garden Birds (3x4)

Air date: May 25, 2010

Colin Stafford-Johnson reveals the secrets of birdwatching In this week’s programme presenter Colin Stafford-Johnson explains to viewers exactly what they will need to enjoy the fascinating hobby of birdwatching. Living the Wildlife presenter Colin started birdwatching as a six-year-old with his brothers and his prized childhood possession is an old guide to birdwatching. Colin visits Knappagh in Westport, County Mayo, one of the best places west of the Shannon for garden birds. There he meets birdwatching enthusiast Wendy Stringer who spends hundreds of euros every year feeding hundreds of birds in her garden. Wendy shows Colin’s daughters Annabelle and Sylvie how to make the lard cakes that birds love to eat. Colin also shows Annabelle and Sylvie some of the things that he used to do as a child to encourage birds into his family garden. This included dressing up in camouflage to try and get garden birds to land on his head! Sylvie and Annabelle give it a go and show how easy it is to bring beautiful birds into your garden if you are patient.