WILDLIFE GARDEN JOBS FOR JANUARY

1 WATCH THE BIRDS Remember to take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. It’s on the final weekend of the month, and your one-hour bird count helps provide the best survey of garden bird numbers. Seee www.rspb.org.uk

2 MAKE A BIRD BOX Imagine the satisfaction if birds were to choose your homemade box to live in! Just follow our guidelines

3 SWEEP A FROZEN POND Don’t worry if your pond freezes over – it happens every winter. You might like to sweep snow off its surface to allow light in.

Look out for...

MISTLE THRUSHES As spotty as the song thrush, but larger and with a football-rattle call, these rare garden visitors are most likely in winter when they may guard a large berryladen bush.

WINTER GNATS They’re harmless, and bob about together like puppets on invisible strings on sunny days.

SKYLARKS ON THE MOVE If hard weather is due, listen for the syrupy calls of these birds of the

open countryside as they move to milder locations.