What the robin knows

I have just finished reading What the robin knows by Jon Young which shows how birds reveal the secrets of the natural world to those who know their language.

In particular you learn the "baseline" calls and behaviour of birds in your area, the songs, the companion calls, territorial aggression and adolescent begging. so you can then spot the alarm calls (and alarm behaviour) and work out what is causing the alarm and where it is. The book is American based but the information is transferable to other environments.

We need a "sit" area we use regularly to learn the lessons from the book.

We are given guidance on "jungle etiquette" where our way of moving, including expanding our sphere of awareness and shrinking our sphere of disturbance, mean birds don't have to waste valuable energy when we move about.

My main sit area will have to be the garden, but there is also an area in Wick Wood, a small new growth wood near the Lea Navigation between the Leabridge Road and Old Ford Lock, I'd like to use also. The problem is it is too far for me to walk (I mean, I am capable of walking that distance (4/5 miles), and back again, but I'd never do it) so I would be cycling there.

There is no mention in the book of how disturbed birds are by cycles. I expect birds whose territory is by the towpath have cycles as part of their baseline environment, but I don't think many people cycle around the wood - I haven't seen another cyclist anytime I have been cycling round it.

I wouldn't want to chain the bike near the towpath and walk to my intended spot. I would be tense from worrying about my bike being stolen. And one of the ways of disturbing birds less is be relaxed oneself!