This weekend the RSPB are hosting the ‘Big Garden Birdwatch’ and are encouraging everyone to take part, wherever you are in the UK!
It couldn’t be easier to join in, and can be a great activity for the whole family to enjoy this weekend.

All you need is: A pen, some scrap paper or your bird ID sheet (link below) and around 1 hour to spend watching the birds. You can visit your favourite park to do it, or take a look in the comfort of your own garden.

What do you do? Just simply make a note of each bird species you seen on the ground at any one time, and then go onto http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/takepart.aspx and let them know what you saw. The Big Garden Birdwatch community group is a tool for you to share your tips and ask any questions you may have.

You can download your handy birdwatching sheet here to fill in and record your findings:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/bgbw_sheet_2012_tcm9-259825.pdf

If you check back on the website after the weekend the results will be up and you and your children will be able to see which birds are most popular around the UK!

Fat Ball Bird Feeders recipe

Why not get creative this weekend and make your own Fat Ball Bird Feeder for your garden. They are cheap and easy to make, and everyone can help! We are in for a cold weekend so it would be a lovely treat for the birds, and will defiantly attract them to your garden which will be great for filling in your bird sheet!

First collect some old yoghurt tubs, then cut a small piece of dowelling (or a lolly stick) the size of the base of the yoghurt tub and tie a long piece of string to it. Wedge the stick in the bottom of the yoghurt pot with the tail of the string coming up out of it.
When you pour the fat mix into the pot, make sure the stick stays at the bottom and the string is trailing out of the top. When set, you can turn it out like a lolly and hang it up from the string.
You will need some fat for binding the mixture. Lard is very cheap and a big block will go a long way for the birds.
Melt the lard in a saucepan until it is liquid - but not too hot (beware of the heat as too much and you will end up with a pan of smoking oil).
Cool a little and add your mixture. This can be wild bird seed, raisins, unsalted peanuts, and any small pieces of leftover cake or bread.
Then simple pour the mix into the old yoghurt pots and you have your bird feeders!

Paper Plate Peacock

Materials

• paper plate
• pens (blues, greens, purples)
• paints - blue, green, dark purple, orange and gold (or gold glitter)
• The template click here to download
• scissors
• glue
• stapler
• Instructions

On a paper plate, draw lines with blue, green and purple shades of markers, the lines should all cross in the centre of the plate.

Have the children dip their index finger into a dark colour of paint and make fingerprints here and there on the plate.

Now have the children dip their pinkie finger into a lighter colour of paint (orange, yellow or gold) and make a pinkie fingerprint in the centre of each index fingerprint they made in the previous step

Set the plates aside to dry.

WHILE THAT'S DRYING, make the body:

Print out the attached template and decorate

Cut out the template pieces.

Assemble the body:  the body is the largest piece - it looks a bit like a peanut... the head is the narrow part glue the top feathers behind the head. Have the children cut slits about 1/4 inch apart to fringe this piece glue on the eyes and beak (you could substitute wiggly eyes for the template ones or just use a black marker to draw on eyes)

Staple the body to the bottom of the plate and you're done your peacock!