The Second Ladybird Book of British Birds #6 – The Great Tit

In 1955 this is what my Ladybird book had to say about the Great Tit:

Is it still true?:

The Great Tit is very common in gardens and towns…

It certainly was back in 1977 when I wrote in my nature notebooks:

“Common garden bird,” I said.

Here’s my full nature notebook entry:

Great Tits – forty years ago in my nature notebooks

What about in 2017? The RSPB says, “It is a woodland bird which has readily adapted to man-made habitats to become a familiar garden visitor.”

Nothing has changed there then.

it is really a friend to the gardener because it destroys vast numbers of insects throughout the summer.

Here’s that old chestnut again: the gardener’s friend. I’d be very happy if we replaced the idea, “Don’t kill it because it’s the gardener’s friend,” with “Don’t kill it because it’s alive.”

What do you think?