The garden can be eerily quiet in August as all the dramatic activity of the birds comes to an end.

This can seem sudden and unexpected but don't worry, you haven't done anything wrong.

For weeks, we have played anxious hosts to nesting birds and their demanding offspring – giving them space and avoiding nesting sites – and now they desert us. Charming!

Although we might miss their lovely song many are off enjoying a well-earned holiday and making the most of the natural food the countryside has to offer.

Some aren't quite that lucky – blackbirds for instance can have up to four lots of young in a short space of time – exhausting work.
They have little time for preening so their feathers may become tatty and are moulted out to be replaced with pristine plumage. They can be almost flightless and very vulnerable during the feather renewing process so do be aware of them.

If the birds are not visiting, there is no need to supply as much food as you have been as it will go to waste.

Take this opportunity to give your feeders and tables a thoroughly good clean. I always use an old toothbrush which can get into any crevices and now is a good time to dismantle them all completely.

If you have some spare time you can easily make shelters for all sorts of wildlife and you could do your bit to conserve some of our most familiar garden birds by putting up nestboxes ready for the next breeding season.

Species like starlings and house sparrows have suffered massive declines in recent years and making sure they have safe nesting sites could really help reverse this.

You could also make shelters for insects and other invertebrates by simply piling up a few logs and twigs.

Its also a good time to make a hedgehog hibernation box as these prickly gardeners' friends will soon be looking for some cosy winter quarters.

But enough talk of winter for now – lets enjoy the last few weeks of summer!

• With a little care your garden can take flight

Well Springwatch is over for another year and what a great series it was.

There were so many highlights I don't know where to begin but I will remember all of our little families with great fondness.

Thank goodness the wrens that chose their nest practically above our heads finally fledged in time for the end of the series – it felt like we were waiting forever!

Bill Oddie and I may have packed our bags and left the set at Pensthorpe but our wildlife will be busily raising their young for a few weeks yet.

Blackbirds, robins and song thrushes are just some of the garden favourites that can have two or three broods each year, so don't be surprised to hear frantic chirping well into August.

June was certainly a wet month – the umbrellas and coats were brandished during Springwatch many evenings – and gardening in the rain is not pleasant either.

In my experience, shrubs and tall flowers can quickly resemble jungle habitat after warm, wet conditions but don't be hasty to grab the shears – remember your late nesting families.

Special garden climbers like wisteria and clematis are favourite nesting sites, so keep an eye out for late activity in those.

Our swifts will depart for sunnier shores this month – just as their screeches when they arrive signal the start of summer their departures can highlight that we are rapidly approaching autumn, so enjoy the mild conditions while you can.

If you get to go further afield there are some fantastic Aren't Birds Brilliant! (Abb!) projects around the country this summer – from peregrines to ospreys and harriers to ducks, there will be something for everyone, so keep an eye on the RSPB's website for opportunities near you.