The secret life of birds is revealed - by Rotherham schoolchildren

Youngsters from Maltby Academy worked with scientists from the University of Sheffield to understand how birds behave and the pressures they face in their environment.

They found that birds prefer high energy foods in winter, such as sunflower seeds, and high protein foods, like mealworms, in April and May. They used a range of experimental approaches to test bird feeding and breeding behaviours, and recorded their findings on a blog.

Different breeds also preferred different feeders, so wildlife lovers should use a variety of methods to attract a diversity of birds.

The initiative is the only outreach project in the country to be presented at this week’s Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition.

Project leader Dr Nicola Hemmings said: “The habitats of birds around the world are changing, so it is now more important than ever to understand how these changes are affecting them and whether they are adapting to survive.”