News: December 2004

BBC Radio 4's Today Program and the BTO joined forces to conduct a mid-winter survey to establish the order in which birds first come to bird feeders in the morning.

At this time of year, many birds will not eat for around 16 hours during the hours of darkness. Researchers believe that different species become active at different times in the morning depending on their energy requirements, roosting behaviour and their location. This survey, designed to be undertaken by ordinary members of the public, aims to find out which species arrive at which point during the morning.

Anyone can take part on the morning of the 21st or 22nd December. For further details, follow this link: http://www.bto.org/gbw/shortest-day.

Anon. In a special survey, in conjunction with the Today Programme, the British Trust for Ornithology is asking people to get up early on Tuesday (21/12/04) - the shortest day of the year - to see which bird species are the first arrivals at feeding stations. Viewed on the web at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/reports/science/birdwatch_20041220.shtml on December 20th 2004.