The magic birds bring

• IT was heartening to read W Davis’s letter (Birds have a tougher time during the cold weather, October 17).

Over the past four years, my 92-year-old dad has had to undergo several surgeries to remove skin cancers so we attended many appointments within the amazing dermatology department at University College Hospital.

To get there, we walked via Huntley Street and always passed a third-floor flat where the owners had hooked bird feeders on to the handles of their sash windows.

It was quite high up but there was always a wonderful flock of goldfinches visiting the feeders which was fantastic to see and a real lift.

I took inspiration from them and put a feeder on my own sash windows which are again on the third and fourth floors; and it took a year but this spring, the goldfinches came.

There are now sometimes up to 12 birds all trying to get a spot on the feeders and we’ve also had great tits, blue tits and coal tits plus a pair of greenfinches that came for all of August and most of September before their migration, I’m assuming, as we haven’t seen them since.

Anyway it’s been total magic and brought immense joy to me, my husband and kids and my dad who loves to hear about them and see the photos and videos.

So I completely agree with W Davis, feed the birds!

KATHERINE
(& BOB)
DAVENPORT, WC1