Eagle-eyed The Burroughs residents welcome feathered friends

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Feb 08, 2019

Residents at The Burroughs had the chance to get up close with feathered friends to mark the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.

The team at The Burroughs nvited Hawkeye Falconry UK to lead a ‘show and tell’ workshop with residents.

Residents were visited by a host of birds of prey as part of the session and residents had the opportunity to learn interesting facts about the different birds and were also able to handle the friendly creatures.

2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, which encourages people nationwide to count the birds in their gardens to allow the charity to monitor trends and understand how different species are doing. Data from over half a million people is then compared year-on-year to provide a ‘snapshot’ of bird numbers across the UK. 

Bozena Szczepaniak, home manager at The Burroughs, said: “RSPB Birdwatch is a popular activity with residents every year – everyone enjoys getting wrapped up and spotting birds in the garden – so we were delighted that the birds of prey could join us for the big event.All of the residents enjoyed taking part, learning more about the wildlife in our garden, and interacting with some new feathered friends. 

“Outdoor activities are important for both physical and mental wellbeing, and have many benefits for older people, particularly for those who are living with dementia. Birdwatching can act as a valuable reminiscence activity, as the distinctive sights and sounds of birds in the garden can help evoke memories. This year was another success, and we’d like to thank Hawkeye falconry UK for joining us.”