The 2015 British Bird Fair: A First Timers Perspective

My Big Year back in 2014 provided me with incredible memories, amazing friends, some not so amazing photographs and a dream fulfilled, however what I never expected it to give me was the opportunity to talk at the world's biggest bird and bird watching fair at Rutland Water Nature Reserve in England, the 2015 British Bird Fair.

Now for those who have not heard about this legendary fair it is exactly that; a fair of legends, almost what one would expect to hear birding parents tell their children in their bed time stories (who needs Humpty Dumpty anyway!) and one which attracts companies, people and organizations from varying corners of the globe. Having said this however, no matter the language barriers that may exist, the plethora of religious beliefs or even race everybody shares one passion, which inevitably is all the communication one needs whilst at the fair, and that's birding; what some would call a language on its own and one which every one of the thousands of people who attended the fair throughout it's three day duration understood and spoke fluently. 

Posing next to one of the many eye opening posters around the fair

However besides the fact that the British Bird Fair is a fantastic trade show allowing people to research destinations they dream of visiting, purchase bird feed for their gardens or simply get their hands onto some sought after books and field guides, it also plays a massive role in the raising of funds and awareness sorrounding avian conservation with this years underlying focus being the protection of migrating birds in the eastern Mediterranean, which each year, are shot and killed in their thousands.

Thus back in April of this year when I received an email from the coordinators of the fair confirming my lecture slot on day three my heart skipped one too many beats. It was not the thought of attending the fair or presenting that got my heart racing the most (or the red bull pushing my heart rate too high) but instead being apart of something that was playing such a massive role in 21st century conservation. My dreams soon became reality when owner and colleague Chris Lotz from Birding Ecotours afforded me the opportunity to travel with the 'BE' team to represent the company as well as to help spread the word on avian conservation in South Africa and before I knew it both Dylan Vasapolli and myself were on our flight out from Johannesburg, Birmingham bound. 

We arrived at Birmingham and made hast toward Rutland Water Nature Reserve to set up our stand in time for the start of the fair the following day. We soon met up with two of our U.K. based colleagues  Andy and Greg and kicked off our trip with what we did best: birding! Of course this being the first time I had ever laid binoculars on Europes birds the lifers came rolling in and I soon managed to connect with one of the species I wanted to see most: the Northern Lapwing, a common yet stunning species! 

The stunning Northern Lapwing, one of my most sought after European species

However before we knew it the clock had struck 20:00 and it was time for some supper and a few of England's highly spoken of ales: cheers to what we hoped to be a successful fair!

The Birding Ecotours team ready and set up

The next three days seemed to pass by in somewhat of a fish and chip, birder infused blur with the first day being somewhat overwhelming what with birders of varying nationalities and celebrity status making appearances as well as the most obvious presence of young birders from the organization 'NGB' or Next Generation Birders, something which truly warmed my heart and gave me a sense of confidence and hope that the hobby I loved and cherished so dearly wasent on the brink of extinction itself, not with these hot-shot, up-and-coming birders making it onto the international birding scene.

Jonathan Meyrav from the
Champions of the Flyway competition, one of the many
inspirational conservationists we were
privileged enough to spend time with.

After the first day of getting my bearings the second and third seemed less 'intense' and more relaxed as the previous sense of mass overwhelming I had seemed to have migrated and it was these second and third days whereby I realized my own personal highlight of the fair and that was having the honor of meeting with and chatting to some of the wolds leaders in avian conservation whom without we would most likely be looking at paint dry: I don't know about you but saying "there's a new maroon red wall on 8th street that's just witnessed the final stroke!" sounds a heck-lot worse than "there's a Stellers Eider in someone's backyard pool in north Scotland".

It was an absolute honor and privilege to also share the stand with friends and colleagues Dylan, Andy and Greg whom each in their own right preach the word on conservation whenever and wherever they can and as with everyone else whom I met, speak the same language: birding. Here's looking forward to more trips together and wishing the Bird Fair organizers and everybody else involved all the best in their current and future conservation endeavors, I salute you.