Making a bird map...

Press, 7 September 1976, Page 13

Making a bird map...

A garden is a busy place in spring, when birds are searching for mates, marking out their home territories, and building nests. Some of these birds may choose to live in your garden and they will select an area and allow no other birds near. They will probably sing loudly at the edges of their chosen territory to warn off intruders. It is interesting -observing the habits of birds, and if you make a bird map of your garden you will learn more about them. You need two sheets of graph paper. On the first sheet, draw the map from above as the birds would

view it. and on the second sheet, give a side view of your garden as you would see it. 1. Draw in the boundaries of your garden and use the squares on the paper to set the scale. Each small square, for instance, could equal 30 cm. Measure your house by using a long piece of string with a knot at every 30 cm. 2. Measure the distances from your garden boundaries to all the places where birds sit, such as trees and posts. Mark these on the map. 3. Observe the birds each morning at the same time and mark on the map

the places they settle to sing.

4. Make your second map. This one is different. When you draw it, pretend that you are looking from the house at both back and front gardens and show the garden area. 5. Add posts, trees and shrubs, and measure their distance from the house and their height where possible. 6. Indicate the spots where the birds build their nests, mark favourite singing areas, and describe the type of bird. You might note, for instance:— Tui nest in manuka; or, Blackbird singing on clothes’ line post.