City flights

The animal kingdom is all around us, but most of it stays out of sight. When you look out of the window you’re probably not going to spot a hedgehog, say, or a stag beetle, or a muntjac deer. But there is one creature that almost all of us will see every day, regardless of whether we live in a block of flats or a cottage in the countryside.

Birds are one of the most visible groups in urban areas, easy to spot on trees and roof terraces, building sites and bus stops. And birdwatching – a hobby often