BIRD lovers in Kent are being encouraged to find out more about our feather friends – and help make sure they survive the winter.

This weekend is the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch, where members of the public can help the welfare charity document the number of different species of birds landing on our shores.

Kent’s skies are filled by an increasingly diverse selection of birds and the RSPB says it is vital people help those that do visit to flourish.

RSPB Bromley leader Bob Francis is about to carryout the charity’s January Bird Feeding Survey and is encouraging local residents to lend a hand.

He said: “You mainly get robins, dunnocks and blackbirds, but finches are on the increase.

“We have been doing the January survey since 1979. House sparrows used to be number one, last year they were number 12.

“You never used to see goldfinch, but now they are coming in big time.”

However, while warmer winters and urbanisation is helping some species of birds to flourish, others are dropping in numbers and need help with their daily meals.

He added: “Blue tits and great tits had a bad time a few years ago because of bad weather and a lot of the chicks died.

“I think it is important to feed the birds. There is no doubt their habitat and countryside are under threat and there is not nearly enough food.

“We are subsidising what should be there by nature.

“Also people find a lot of enjoyment in doing it – it is giving something back.”

To get involved in the Big Garden Birdwatch, sit in your garden or local park on Saturday or Sunday and count all the different species that you see land in the area.

Try to make sure you do not count the same bird twice, and do not count birds that fly overhead.

Visit the RSPB at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch for more details or to submit your results, which will be published in March.

See this week’s Bromley Extra for more tips on keeping our feathered friends well fed.