The snow has finally cleared, the air is warmer and the birds are louder - this can only mean one thing - springtime.

While our feathered friends are no doubt grateful for the upturn in weather, they now move onto the next big challenge of the year - breeding.

Some Richmond birdwatchers have already reported seeing baby robins hopping about their gardens. It won't be long before Twickenham, Isleworth and Richmond are awash with baby birds. This has prompted the RSPB to offer its annual advice, slightly earlier than usual.

The charity is encouraging everyone to leave baby birds alone, as interfering could do more harm than good. Seeing a helpless-looking young chick yelling for its mum can be heart-breaking, but that doesn't mean it's been abandoned - and it doesn't mean you should intervene.

The advice is to rest assured that mum and dad are probably close by and most definitely know best. This precarious period when birds first leave the nest may look harsh, but is all part of the process of a young bird learning to survive on its own.

**The temptation to help baby chicks can be irrisistable**

Parents rarely abandon their chicks and although you may not be able to see or hear them, they will always be close by and are likely to return soon.

Sometimes you may find baby chicks on pavements or in roads. In these circumstances, there is no harm in moving them to the nearest bush or natural cover - but don't move them far.

**If you find a chick with no feathers, gently move it to the nearest bush or sheltered spot**

If you are worried that a bird is genuinely injured, visibly sick or in danger, check out the above infographic.

For framed bird pictures, visit I Like Bird