Hannah Bourne-Taylor, the self-styled 'bird lady' from Amazon Prime's Clarkson's Farm, has urged people to place water outside to help birds during the ongoing UK heatwave. In a video shared with her hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers, she demonstrated filling a watering can and pouring water into a makeshift pond in a field.
Why water is crucial for birds in heatwaves
In the video, Bourne-Taylor explained that since the 1970s, approximately 70% of small natural water bodies like ponds have either dried up or been filled in. She emphasized that during a heatwave, this lack of water can be fatal for birds and other wildlife. “And actually, in a heatwave like this, this water, in lieu of a pond, could save a life, or maybe several,” she said.
Bourne-Taylor's call to action
Bourne-Taylor urged her followers to place water in gardens, parks, or any outdoor space. She described the water as “a spa for them” and stressed that it “could spell the difference between life and death today.” Her appeal comes as the UK experiences temperatures soaring past 30°C.
Viewers share their own efforts
Many viewers responded in the comments with their own methods. One wrote: “My crows use the paddling pool I have for the dogs. I change the water every two days, they also have a bowl that I put drinking water in for them.” Another shared: “I have water in my garden for birds and little creatures and I am amazed at how many birds take a drink or a bath.” A third added: “I do this on my windowsill and fill with marbles so little critters can also enjoy. I've noticed the crows picking at my nicer marbles though. I wonder where they take them...”
Bourne-Taylor's role on Clarkson's Farm
Bourne-Taylor appeared in the most recent series of Clarkson's Farm, where she was shown ensuring that birds were not disturbed by farm work. She walked ahead of farmhand Kaleb Cooper to mark out any nests that might be accidentally hit when driving through fields.
